Total U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased in 2018 for the first year since 2014, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on Tuesday.
According to the EIA, energy-related CO2 emissions in the country rose to 5.27 billion metric tons, 2.7 percent more than its 2017 level. The primary reasons for the increase were higher natural gas-related emissions resulting from more extreme summer and winter weather and growth in transportation-related petroleum emissions, linked to a strong economy.
Because both heating and cooling demand were higher in 2018, total natural gas emissions increased by 10 percent.
U.S. petroleum consumption also increased in 2018, contributing to a 1.9 percent increase in energy-related CO2 emissions from petroleum. Relatively strong economic growth spurred growth in diesel consumption, which resulted in a 6 percent increase in related CO2 emissions.
Editor:Cherie
