This report indicating the country is yet to green up its ways was not too long ago released by the US EIA

Sep 29, 2014 18:55 GMT  ·  By

Figures made available to the general public not too long ago by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA, for short) indicate that the country is yet to green up its ways.

Thus, the report in question shows that, despite investments made in green energy sources in recent years and efforts to promote sustainability, emissions resulting from fossil fuels are now on the rise in the US.

Quite ironically, this report was released just days after President Barack Obama told world leaders present at the UN Climate Conference in New York that the country would do its best to put climate change and global warming on a tight leash.

The documented increase in emissions

Business Green informs that, when compared to the first half of the previous year, overall carbon dioxide emissions reported in the US between January and June 2014 were found to be roughly 2.74% higher.

When the same period in 2012 was taken into consideration as a baseline, an increase of as much as 6% was documented, the Energy Information administration writes in its report.

What's odd is that this increase in emissions from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas was documented following a period during which the country did quite well in terms of improving on its ecological footprint.

Thus, specialists say that, between the years 2010 and 2012, a switch from coal to natural gas in power stations translated into a considerable drop in US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.

However, it appears that, during the first six months of 2014, carbon dioxide emissions from coal upped by 12% when compared to the year 2012. Those from natural gas and petroleum were found to have increased by 7.3% and 0.8%, respectively.

Commenting on this latest EIA report, Ken Bossong with SUN DAY Campaign, said, “The growth in US CO2 emissions is clear wake-up call that much more needs to be done to accelerate the growth of renewable energy sources, as well as improved energy efficiency, if the nation is to successfully address climate change.”

The culprits behind this increase in emissions

It is understood that the country's residential sector experienced a 17% increase in emissions from fossil fuels during the first half of 2014 when compared to 2012. The commercial sector, on the other hand, was found to have witnessed a 10% increase.

As far the country's electric power and industrial sectors are concerned, EIA experts recorded an increase of about 7% and 3%. It appears that transport emissions are the only ones that stayed the same as in 2012.

Still some good news

Admittedly, the US slipped up in the first half of 2014 as far as limiting emissions from fossil fuels is concerned. Still, it looks like significant progress was made in terms of promoting the use of green energy, which somehow makes up for it.

Thus, EIA says that renewable sources currently account for 11.7% of the country's domestic energy production and 10% of this energy consumption. The US came to tout these percentages as a result of a 7% increase in green energy production when compared to the year 2012.