79% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas. Electricity production (25% of 2021 greenhouse gas emissions) – Electric power generates the second largest share of greenhouse gas emissions and includes emissions from electricity production used by other end use sectors (e.g.Over 94% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum based, which includes primarily gasoline and diesel. Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation primarily come from burning fossil fuel for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes. Transportation (28% of 2021 greenhouse gas emissions) – The transportation sector generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions.

The primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions by economic sector in the United States are: This annual report estimates the total national greenhouse gas emissions and removals associated with human activities across the United States. emissions by publishing the Inventory of U.S. 1 The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.ĮPA tracks total U.S. Human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last 150 years. Greenhouse gases trap heat and make the planet warmer. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2021. All emission estimates from the Inventory of U.S. This net sink is not shown in the above diagram. Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry in the United States is a net sink and offsets 12% of these greenhouse gas emissions. More information is also in the electricity distributed section of this page. Note that other sectors, particularly Industry and Commercial/Residential buildings, consume large amounts of electricity, and their share of overall emissions is significantly higher when these 'indirect emissions' are included. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to independent rounding. Total Emissions in 2021 are 6,340 Million Metric Tons of CO₂ equivalent.

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