US CO2 emissions again increased in 2007

Carbon dioxide or CO2 is harmful greenhouse gas mainly responsible for global warming and climate change. And though all countries agree that we should cut down carbon dioxide emissions and put more emphasis on the renewable energy sector, reality is completely different. Preliminary government estimate showed that US CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels increased 1.6 percent in 2007, rising from 5,888 million in 2006 to 5,984 million metric tonnes in 2007.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) said that this growth of CO2 emissions include several factors : "weather conditions that increased the demand for heating and cooling services, and a higher carbon intensity of electricity supply". EIA also stated how since 1990, in less than 20 years CO2 emissions rose by 19,4 %, which is in average more than 1 % per year. Majority of CO2 emissions (about 80 %) comes from fossil fuels burning (coal, oil, natural gas).

Industrial carbon dioxide emissions luckily fell by 0.1 percent in 2007, but on the other hand emissions from the residential and commercial sectors increased by 4.4 percent and 4.3 percent, and transportation-related emissions, which account for about a third of total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, increased by 0.1 percent in 2007. The largest single source of US carbon dioxide emissions is electric power generation, that represents about 40 percent of the total US CO2 emissions.

The current data shows that though there is lot of talk about turning to renewable energy sector and cutting down carbon dioxide emissions, little of this is actually happening in United States, and USA (together with China) convincingly leads the way in CO2 emissions. More CO2 emissions means more impact on climate change, and presents real danger to future of our planet. And as long as fossil fuels remain dominant on global scale this trend will continue. Renewable energy sector is still too weak, and fossil fuels are still dominant even despite recent boom in oil prices. There is only talk and few warnings, with little or no action. And USA that should be really (as the world's most powerful country) lead the way in cutting down CO2 emissions is doing completely opposite. Like global warming is only a great hoax. If only...