U.S. emissions up, EPA calls that 'results'

Lisa Moore is a scientist in the Climate and Air Program.

The EPA just released its most recent estimate of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, which shows that our global warming pollution continues to climb. Since 1990, emissions are up more than 16 percent. But the EPA is casting this as a victory. How?

The economy grew more quickly than emissions, meaning that emissions “intensity” went down. The Bush Administration’s goal is to decrease greenhouse gas intensity 18 percent by 2012, so the EPA describes these numbers as “real results” (registration required).

Intensity targets are a smokescreen for inaction because they don’t guarantee that emissions will go down. As Dr. Chameides described in his series “Action Needed to Stop Global Warming“, emissions have to decrease (substantially!) to avoid dangerous climate change.