April 14th, 2013
According to the latest report on Emissions released by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), increase in energy consumption and warm temperatures have led to higher Greenhouse Gas emissions in the US. Gas emissions grew by 3.3 percent in 2010 and amounted to 6.866 billion tones in the period of one year between 2009 and 2010. Greenhouse Gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, which had shown a declining trend in 2008 and 2009, also increased by 3.6 percent in 2010. On the whole, the US Greenhouse Gas emissions rose by 11 percent from 1990 to 2010 leaving behind warning signals.
The report further mentioned that the energy consumption mainly increased because of the higher energy demands resulting from the economy recovery and manufacturing output expansion. Another reason for higher energy consumption was stated to be warmer climate conditions in the US. The warm weathers led to increased usage of air conditioners and other relief measures commanding higher energy consumption in 2010.
The US aims to reduce their domestic Greenhouse Gas emissions by an amount which is 17 percent below the 2005 emissions, by the end of 2020. The US Government indeed needs to take significant measures to implement carbon capping legislation and control energy consumption to achieve the stated targets.