US Carbon Emissions Up 6% In Past Two Years

[hatrack]

U.S. emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide have risen 6% in the last two years despite the Obama administration's efforts to curb global warming, federal data show. Reversing several years of declines, its emissions from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) rose 2.7% during the first half of this year, compared to the same period in 2013, and 6% compared to 2012, according to the Energy Information Administration's "Monthly Energy Review."

This increase is a setback for President Obama, who touted U.S. progress in cutting emissions at this week's historic U.N. Climate Summit in New York, attended by representative from more than 120 countries.

"Over the past eight years, the United States has reduced our total carbon pollution by more than any other nation on Earth," he said, adding the U.S. is on track to meet his 2009 pledge to cut carbon emissions 17% below 2005 levels by 2020.

Indeed, until 2013, the U.S. was well on its way toward meeting that goal. Its energy-related carbon emissions had fallen 13.4% from 2005 through 2012, according to the EIA data. But given increases in the last 18 months, that decline since 2005 now stands at 10.7%.

EDIT

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/26/us-carbon-emissions-rise-despite-obama-climate-plan/16276811/

[Fred Sanders]

1. When the oceans rise enough to swamp land, I do hope the shores of America drown first, payback.

[merrily]

2. Apparently, Ms. Koch, the article's author, had no thought on why

the biggest increase in emissions during the last 18 months came from homes (assuming that is even true).

Too bad we have mostly transcribers now, and way too few journalists.

[yeoman6987]

3. Could the colder winter be the reason?

Seems they want President Obama to be the reason. Snakes!

[Travis_0004]

4. probably improvements in the economy

Unemployed people will often not use AC or keep the heat way down. As the economy improves more people can afford to use climate control. Even if poeple are employed but worried about their job they may cut back on use.

Factories cut back on shifts and reduce power. Maybe even shut down for a week or two to let demand catch up.

I worked at Lowes and when sales declined we eliminated our overnight crew and moved them to days.

This meant that we could turn off the ac and use almost no lighting. With sales back up the overnight may be back (I dont work there anymore).

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Good news....Chile becomes first South American country to tax carbon

Skipping the carrot, Chile is using the stick.
Hopefully ti is a workable idea and will spread.

Chile's carbon tax will target the power sector, particularly generators operating thermal plants with installed capacity equal or larger than 50 megawatts (MW).

These installations will be charged $5 per tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) released. Thermal plants fueled by biomass and smaller installations will be exempt.

http://www.trust.org/item/20140927000016-jx232/?source=leadCarousel

[hunter]

6. We should also include the carbon emissions from imports.

If a bridge is built here in the U.S.A. using Chinese steel, then we own those emissions. Same with all the auto parts, electronics, even solar and wind generation equipment we import.

It's not just China, it's Germany, Japan... imports from any nation that generates a substantial amount of energy from fossil fuels. Not to mention fuel for the ships.