Full Title: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Recent Trends and Factors
Author(s): Jonathan L. Ramseur
Publisher(s): Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Publication Date: November 1, 2014
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Description (excerpt):
On June 25, 2013, President Obama affirmed his commitment to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 if all other major economies agreed to limit their emissions as well. In addition, during a November 2014 trip to China, President Obama announced a new policy target to reduce U.S. net GHG emissions by 26%-28% by 2025. Whether these objectives will be met is uncertain, but emission levels and recent trends remain a topic of interest among policy makers.
U.S. GHG emissions increased during most of the years between 1990 and 2007, and then decreased substantially in 2008 and 2009. Although emissions increased in 2010, levels decreased again in 2011 and 2012, eventually reaching levels comparable to those from 1995. In terms of the President’s 2020 emissions target, in 2012, U.S. GHG emissions were approximately 10% below 2005 levels—more than halfway toward the 2020 target.