EIA Reports 3.9-Percent Increase in U.S. Energy-Related CO2
Emissions in 2010 U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from the
consumption of fossil fuels were 5,638 million metric tons
carbon dioxide (MMTCO2) in 2010, an increase of 3.9 percent from
the 2009 level, according to Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide
Emissions, 2010, an online analysis released by the U.S. Energy
Information Administration (EIA). This is the largest percentage
increase in U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions since
1988. However emissions are still 6 percent below the 2005
level. Since 1990, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions have grown at
an average annual rate of 0.6 percent. Among the factors that
influenced the rise in emissions was an increase in the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of 3.0 percent. In addition, the energy
intensity of the U.S. economy, measured as energy consumed per
dollar of GDP (Energy/GDP), increased by 0.7 percent in 2010.
There was also a slight increase in the carbon dioxide intensity
of U.S. energy supply (CO2 per un