U.S. and Global Climate Data Facts and Figures Index

The following series of tables and graphs contain global and U.S. data on greenhouse gases.

GLOBAL CLIMATE DATA:

All Greenhouse Gases

The Greenhouse Effect [1] (figure 1)

The Main Greenhouse Gases [2] (table 1)

Global CO₂ Flows, Carbon Reservoirs, and Reservoir Changes [3] (figure 2)

GWP and Carbon Dioxide Equivalents (CO₂E) [4] (box 1)

World Anthropogenic Emissions of GHGs [5] (table 2)

Sources of Anthropogenic GHG Emissions Worldwide [6] (figure 3)

Regional Distribution of GHG Emissions [7] (table 3)

Gases Reported by Parties for 1990 or Other Base Year in Gigagrams of CO₂ Equivalent [8] (table 4)

Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions

As can be seen from Table 2, almost 70 percent of the anthropogenic contribution to global warming in 1990 was due to CO₂. Attention has focused on CO₂ emissions both because anthropogenic CO₂ emissions far exceed other anthropogenic emissions and because of the availability of data.⁵  Anthropogenic CO₂  emissions come from two primary sources (1) the combustion of fossil fuels; and (2) land-use change, primarily tropical deforestation.

Annual Global Carbon Emissions from Fossil Fuels and Land-Use Change (Deforestation) [9] (figure 4)

CO₂ Emissions from Fossil-Fuel Combustion and Land-Use Change [10] (figure 5)

CO₂ Emissions from Fossil Fuels and Land-Use Change for Seven Countries [11](table 5)

Worldwide Energy-Related CO₂ Emissions, 1860-1997 [12] (figure 7)

CO₂ Emissions from Land-Use Change, 1850-1990 [13] (figure 8)

Global Emissions Drivers

Anthropogenic GHG emissions levels depend on the human population size, the level of economic activity, and the technologies in use. Increases in population and level of economic activity tend to be closely tied to increased use of energy. Insofar as fossil fuels are used as the source of this energy, increased use of energy will lead to increased CO₂ emissions unless sequestration, energy efficiency improvements, or other technologies (e.g., capture and storage of carbon) can balance the increased use. This section provides data on population and energy use. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is provided for the seven countries with the highest CO₂   emissions as an indicator of their level of economic activity.

Future Emissions [14] (box 2 & figure 9)

Populations Projections by Region in 2050 [15] (table 6)

Total World Primary Energy Production and Electricity Consumption, 1980-1998 [16] (figure 10)

Worldwide Primary Energy Supply by Fuel Type [17] (figure 11)

Population, GDP, and Energy Consumption for Seven Countries [18] (table 7)

US CLIMATE DATA:

All Greenhouse Gases

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) are primary sources of information on GHG emissions in the United States. USEPA provides annually updated information on past and current emissions in the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks. The USDOE Energy Information Administration's Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States covers all GHGs. USDOE's Annual Energy Outlook is devoted to energy production and use in the United States while the International Energy Outlook provides data for both the United States and the rest of the world. These publications are available on the websites listed at the end of this section.

U.S. GHG Emissions [19]  (figure 12)

Sources of Total GHG Emissions in CO2E in the U.S. by Sector [20] (figure 13)

Sources of GHGs in the U.S. [21] (figure 14)

U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions:

CO₂ Emissions by Fuel Type in the U.S., 1850-1996 [22] (figure 15)

CO₂ Emissions for Major Economic Sectors in the U.S. [23] (figure 16)

Annual Carbon Stored by U.S. Forests, 1950-1998 [24] (table 8)

U.S. Emissions Drivers:

U.S. Population Projections to 2050 [25] (figure 17)

Historic Growth in the U.S. - GDP and Energy Consumption, 1949-1999 [26] (figure 18)

Energy Consumption by End-Use Sector [27] (figure 19)

Energy Production by Fuel-Type and Technology in the U.S. [28] (figure 20)

Conversion Factors and Websites:

A variety of units are used to provide emissions and energy data. The following tables provide factors for converting between the units most commonly encountered in sources.

Standard International Units [29] (table 9)

Factors for Converting Units [30] (table 10)

Websites Used in this Section [31] (table 11)

Endnotes [32]

References [33]