U.S. emissions increased 1 percent from 2021-2022 but fell 17 percent from 2005 levels: EPA

American greenhouse gas emissions rose 1 percent between 2021 and 2022 but fell nearly 17 percent from 2005 levels, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s annual emissions inventory report.

Net U.S. emissions increased by 1.3 percent in 2022 for a total of 5,489 million metric tons of carbon dioxide compared to the previous year, according to the EPA. The agency attributed the bulk of the increase to higher levels of fossil fuel combustion as the economic rebound and lifting of pandemic-related restrictions that began in 2021 continued.

Despite the year-over-year increase, however, the EPA determined that net emissions fell 16.7 percent compared to 2005 levels between 1990 and 2022. This decrease was partly due to a decline in emissions from industry over the last decade, according to the EPA. The agency attributed this drop to several factors, including macroeconomic trends like the shift from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-based economy. Improvements in energy efficiency also played a role, as did transitions to lower-carbon fuels.

Transportation accounted for the biggest share of emissions in 2022, at 28.4 percent, followed by electricity generation at 24.9 percent and industry at 22.9 percent, according to the EPA. The remainder came from a combination of farming and the commercial and residential sectors.

The vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 were carbon emissions, which comprised 79.7 percent, followed by methane emissions at 11.1 percent. Methane persists in the atmosphere for less time than carbon dioxide but is over 80 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere. The remaining greenhouse gas emissions came from nitrous oxide with 6.1 percent and a combination of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride, which collectively comprised 3.1 percent.

“Through a rigorous development and review process, EPA annually refines and strengthens our greenhouse gas inventory, producing a comprehensive tally of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks,” said Joseph Goffman, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. “Reflecting input from hundreds of experts across the government, academia, industry, and consulting, the GHG Inventory report is a model for high-quality and transparent national GHG accounting.”