EPA inventory discovers increased greenhouse gas emissions

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks on Tuesday, which found that emissions increased by two percent from 2012 to 2013, due to increased energy consumption.

The inventory found that Americans accounted for just under 6.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2013, which, while more than the 2012 levels, accounts for a nine percent decrease from 2005. Power plants were the leading industry for these emissions, with 31 percent attributed to them, followed quickly by transportation, at 27 percent, and industry and manufacturing at 21 percent.

These emissions threaten future air quality, as well as the predictability and moderation of weather, due to their driving force on climate change.

While this is the 20th inventory the EPA has published, it has data going back to 1990. In a new development, the EPA is publishing this year’s data online via its Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer tool. This will allow the general public to work with and download the data according to sector, year and greenhouse gas. In support of the new tool, the EPA will host a webinar on its use on April 22 at 1 p.m. EST.