Greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.2 percent from 2009 to 2010, according to the 17th annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory, published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The final report, released on April 16, says the increase in emissions is attributed to an increase in energy consumption across all economic sectors, increasing energy demand associated with an expanding economy, and increased demand for electricity for air conditioning due to warmer summer weather during 2010.

Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2010 were equivalent to 6,822 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. The report indicates that since 1990, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 10.5 percent.

The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2010 is the latest annual report that the United States has submitted to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. EPA prepares the annual report in collaboration with experts from multiple federal agencies and after gathering comments from stakeholders across the country.

The inventory tracks annual greenhouse gas emissions at the national level and presents historical emissions from 1990 to 2010.

For more on the greenhouse gas inventory report, click here.

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