The U.S. EPA is seeking public comment on a draft annual report, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2006 (PDF), that analyzes sources of greenhouse gas emissions.The major finding in this year’s draft report is that overall emissions during 2006 decreased by 1.5 percent from the previous year. This decrease was due primarily to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions associated with fuel and electricity consumption.
Total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2006 were about 7,202million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. Overall, emissions have grown by 14.1 percent from 1990 to 2006 while the U.S. economy has grown by 59 percent over the same period.