WASHINGTON - U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels decreased by 1.3 percent in 2006, from 5,955 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2005 to 5,877 million metric tons in 2006, according to preliminary estimates released by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Factors that drove emissions lower include weather conditions that reduced the demand for heating and cooling; higher energy prices for natural gas, gasoline, and electricity that reduced energy demand; and the use of a less carbon-intensive fuel mix (more natural gas and non-carbon fuels) in the generation of electricity.

Through 2006, total U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions have grown by 17.9 percent since 1990. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions account for over 80 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Publication date:06/11/2007