Carbon dioxide emissions increased in 2014 for the second straight year as the economy improved, climbing 1 percent above 2013 levels.
The Energy Information Administration, the independent analysis arm of the Department of Energy, said 5.4 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide were put in the atmosphere in 2014.
The rise in emissions can be attributed to an increase in economic activity, the agency said. The country’s gross domestic product grew 2.4 percent in 2014.
Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions grew by 24 million metric tons in 2014, which can be partly attributed to a drop in transportation fuel prices.
“Lower prices, along with continued economic recovery, led to higher gasoline consumption, along with higher consumption of other fuels,” the report stated. “The growth in energy consumption more than offset improvements in the fuel economy of the vehicle fleet.”
Most climate scientists blame greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, emitted from burning fossil fuels for driving manmade climate change. Countries will gather in Paris next week to try to reach an international deal to cut global emissions.
Emissions also rose in the commercial sector and in the residential sector, by 19 million metric tons and 18 million metric tons, respectively. Residential use is mainly dictated by weather, while commercial use is influenced by both weather and economic activity.
The biggest increase in residential use came in the initial months of 2014 when the “polar vortex” descended on the country, bringing frigid temperatures. Expected heating demand was 10 percent higher in the first quarter of 2014, according to the report.
The industrial sector saw a decrease of 11 million metric tons in 2014. That’s despite a 13 million metric ton increase in emissions from natural gas.
“Because natural gas has the lowest carbon intensity of the fossil fuels, higher use of natural gas meant that more energy was being delivered with fewer overall emissions compared to coal and petroleum liquids, the fuels it likely replaced,” the report stated.
Despite increases in 2013 and 2014, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions are still down 10 percent from 2005 levels, thanks to large decreases in previous years, some of which were during the recession.
