Increased demand for heating leads to rise in US emissions

United States greenhouse gas emissions rose 1.4 per cent in 2007, compared with the previous year, the US Environmental Protection Agency reported last week.

The report also indicates that US emissions of climate-warming gases such as carbon dioxide and methane rose 17.2 per cent from 1990 to 2007.

The increase in 2007 was mainly due to a rise in carbon dioxide emissions related to fuel and energy consumption, the environmental agency said.

There was more demand for heating fuel and electricity due to cooler winter and warmer summer temperatures, compared with 2006, the report said.

There was also increased demand for fossil fuels to generate electricity, coupled with a significant decrease - 14.2 per cent - in hydropower generation to meet this demand.

Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2007 were equivalent to 7.15 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.

Carbon dioxide is emitted by natural and human-made sources, notably coal-fired power plants and vehicles powered by fossil fuels. Members of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have said that emissions of this and other greenhouse gases spur climate change.

The EPA's report is the latest annual greenhouse gas inventory submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.