Understanding how much global warming pollution is being emitted
and where those emissions are coming from is an important step
to reducing emissions in Oregon. It also provides a baseline for
measuring progress as the state strives to reduce its emissions.
What is Oregon’s carbon footprint? If you account for the
greenhouse gases emitted in Oregon, as well as emissions
associated with electricity used by Oregonians, then the total
amount of greenhouse gases that Oregon is responsible for (i.e.,
its “carbon footprint”) is currently fluctuating around 65-70
million metric tons per year. The six greenhouse gases which
dominate global warming pollution are included in this total,
normalized so that the relative warming “strength” of each of
the gases is equivalent to that of carbon dioxide (carbon
dioxide equivalent or CO2e). As can be seen below, carbon
dioxide emissions dominate in Oregon relative to the other gases
and have been growing since 1990. This graph shows how Oregon's
greenhouse gas emissions have c