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

*Published:* 2007-04-17
*Author:* Lisa Moore

*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](http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html), 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”](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041601211.html) (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](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2007/03/21/us_emissions/ "action needed to stop global warming")“, emissions have to decrease (substantially!) to avoid dangerous climate change.