_
racts
U.S.Transportation Sector
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
1990-2009
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA-420-F-12-012
December 2012
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Transportation Emissions of the United States
The transportation end-use sector1 is one of the largest contributors to U.S. greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions. According to the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks
1990-2009, the national inventory that the U.S. prepares annually under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), transportation represented 27% of
total U.S. GHG emissions in 2009. Cars, trucks, commercial aircraft, and railroads, among other
sources, all contribute to transportation end-use sector emissions. Within the sector, light-duty
vehicles (including passenger cars and light-duty trucks) were by far the largest category, with
65% of GHG emissions, while medium- and heavy-duty trucks made up the second largest
category, with 20% of emissions. Between 1990 and 2009, GHG emissions in the transporta-
tion end-use sector increased more in absolute terms than any other end-use sector (industrial,
agriculture, residential, commercial).
Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane
(CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and various hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). CO2, CH4, and N2O
are all emitted via the combustion of fuels, while HFCs are the result of leaks and end-of-life
disposal from air conditioners used to cool people and/or freight.
Mobile Sources
Transportation
Highway Vehicles
Aircraft
Ships & Boats
Rail
Pipelines
Lubricants
Non-Transportation Mobile
Agricultural Equipment
Construction & Mining Equipment
Lawn & Garden Equipment
Logging Equipment
Recreational Equipment
When including emissions from non-transportation mobile sources2 such as agricultural, lawn and
garden, and construction equipment, mobile sources constituted nearly a third, or 30%, of total
U.S. GHG emissions in 2009. In addition, emissions have grown 20% since 1990 due in large
part to increased demand for travel.
U.S. Territories
1%
AllOther
Transportation
Sources
Transportation
27%
Medium- and
Heavy-Duty
Trucks
Light-Duty
Trucks
30%
Share of U.S. GHG Emissions
by End-Use Sector*
Share of U.S. Transportation End-Use
Sector GHG Emissions by Source*
* Note: Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding.
Share of U.S. Transportation End-Use
Sector GHG Emissions by Gas*
* Note: Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding.
End use sector emissions include (1) direct emissions and (2) emissions associated with electricity generation,
as allocated to the sectors in which it is used.
C02 emissions from wood biomass and biofuel consumption are not included in this document. Data can be found
in the Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry chapter of the Inventory. See page 4 for more information on the
Inventory.
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U.S.Transportation GHG Emissions
(Tg C02 Equivalent)
Change from
1990to2009
Source 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008 2009 Absolute Percent
On-Road Vehicles
Light-Duty Vehicles
Passenger Cars
Light-Duty Trucks
Motorcycles
Buses
Medium- and Heavy-
Duty Trucks
Aircraft
Commercial Aviation
Military Aircraft
General Aviation
Ships and Boats
Rail
Pipelines
Lubricants
Transportation Total
1,235.2
993.9
657.4
336.6
1.8
8.4
231.1
181.2
136.8
34.8
9.6
45.1
39.0
36.0
11.8
1,548.3
1,371.3
1,082.5
646.0
436.6
1.8
9.2
277.8
175.4
143.1
24.1
8.2
58.6
43.7
38.2
11.3
1,698.5
1,575.1
1,207.4
695.3
512.1
1.9
11.2
354.6
204.4
170.9
21.3
12.1
61.0
48.1
35.2
12.1
1,935.8
1,682.9
1 ,260.8
709.5
551.3
1.7
12.0
408.4
198.7
162.8
18.3
17.5
45.2
53.0
32.2
10.2
2,022.2
1,603.8
1,186.4
632.5
553.8
2.2
12.2
403.1
158.7
123.4
16.4
18.8
37.1
50.6
35.7
9.5
1,895.5
1 ,557.4
1,178.4
627.4
551.0
2.2
11.2
365.6
142.1
112.5
14.3
15.3
30.5
43.3
35.2
8.5
1,817.0
322.2
184.4
-30.0
214.4
0.4
2.8
134.5
-39.1
-24.3
-20.5
5.7
-14.6
4.3
-0.9
-3.3
268.6
26.1
18.6
-4.6
63.7
23.6
33.8
58.2
-21.6
-17.8
-58.9
59.4
-32.4
11.1
-2.4
-27.8
17.3
U.S. Non-Transportation Mobile GHG Emissions
Change in GHG Emissions by Sector: 1990-2009
Ships and Boats • All Other Transportation Sources Non Transportation Mobile Sources • Aircraft
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks • Light-Duty Trucks
Non-Transportation
Mobile
Agricultural
Equipment
Construction
Equipment
Other Non-
Transportation Mobile
Non-Transportation +
Transportation Total
128.8
31.4
42.4
55.0
1,677.1
146.8
37.0
49.4
60.4
1 ,845.3
158.3
39.2
55.8
63.4
2,094.1
190.7
47.3
66.5
76.9
2,212.9
194.2
45.9
69.9
78.4
2,089.7
197.7
47.2
71.2
79.3
2,014.7
69.0
15.8
28.8
24.3
337.6
53.6
50.3
68.1
44.2
20.1
U.S.Transportation GHG Emissions by Gas, 2009
(Tg C02 Equivalent)
Transportation Source CO2 CH4 N20 MFCs Total Percent
On-Road Vehicles
Light-Duty Vehicles
Passenger Cars
Light-Duty Trucks
Motorcycles
Buses
Medium- and Heavy-
Duty Trucks
Aircraft
Commercial Aviation
Military Aircraft
General Aviation
Ships and Boats
Rail
Pipelines
Lubricants
Transportation Total
1,477.7
1,111.7
597.2
514.5
2.1
10.8
353.1
140.7
111.4
14.1
15.1
30.0
40.6
35.2
8.5
1,732.7
1.4
1.3
0.7
0.6
0.0
+
0.1
0.1
0.1
+
+
+
0.1
—
—
1.6
20.3
19.4
10.1
9.4
+
+
0.8
1.3
1.1
0.1
0.1
0.4
0.3
—
—
22.4
57.9
45.9
19.3
26.6
—
0.4
11.6
—
—
—
—
+
2.3
—
—
60.2
1,557.4
1,178.4
627.4
551.0
2.2
11.2
365.6
142.1
112.5
14.3
15.3
30.5
43.3
35.2
8.5
1,817.0
77.3
58.5
31.1
27.3
0.1
0.6
18.1
7.1
5.6
0.7
0.8
1.5
2.1
1.7
0.4
90.2
U.S. Non-Transportation Mobile GHG Emissions by Gas, 2009
Non-Transportation
Mobile
Agricultural
Equipment
Construction
Equipment
Other Non-
Transportation Mobile
Non-Transportation +
Transportation Total
195.9
46.7
70.6
78.6
1,928.6
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
2.0
1.5
0.4
0.5
0.6
23.9
—
—
—
—
60.2
197.7
47.2
71.2
79.3
2,014.7
9.8
2.3
3.5
3.9
100
+ Less than .05 Tg C02 Eq.
— Not calculated
* Note that CH4 and N20 emissions are not calculated for pipelines in the (importation GHG Inventory.
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2009 Fuel Consumption
(Billion G^o™ Energy (Tbtu) CO2 (Tg)
MOTOR GASOLINE*
141.2 17,542.7 1,188.6
Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles
Passenger Cars
Light-Duty Trucks
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks
Motorcycles
Buses
Recreational Boats
128.6
70.7
57.9
3.6
0.3
+
1.6
15,971.4
8,780.4
7,190.9
453.0
31.6
5.1
197.6
1 ,079.3
593.3
485.9
30.6
2.1
0.3
13.4
Non-Transportation
Agricultural Equipment
Construction Equipment
Other Non-Transportation Mobile
DISTILLATE FUEL*
0.7
0.6
5.9
52.2
84.0
69.3
730.6
7,241.2
6.0
4.9
51.9
535.5
Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles
Passenger Cars
Light-Duty Trucks
Buses
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks
Recreational Boats
Ships and Boats
Rail
3.0
0.4
2.6
0.9
31.4
0.3
0.1
3.5
413.8
52.7
361.0
126.3
4,350.5
46.8
16.5
488.9
30.6
3.9
26.7
9.3
321.8
3.5
1.2
36.2
Non-Transportation
Agricultural Equipment
Construction Equipment
Other Non-Transportation Mobile
RESIDUAL FUEL OIL
Ships and Boats
JET FUEL
Commercial Aircraft
General Aviation Aircraft
Military Aircraft
AVIATION GASOLINE
General Aviation Aircraft
NATURAL GAS
Buses
Pipelines
4.0
6.4
2.6
1.1
1.1
14.2
11.4
1.4
1.4
0.2
0.2
—
—
—
549.9
888.0
360.7
159.4
159.4
1,922.3
1 ,542.4
184.2
195.7
26.6
26.6
671.9
20.4
651.5
40.7
65.7
26.7
12.0
12.0
138.8
111.4
13.3
14.1
1.8
1.8
36.3
1.1
35.2
LPG
Light-Duty Trucks
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks
Buses
ELECTRICITY
Rail
LUBRICANTS
Total
(Billion GVS Energy (Tbtu) CO2 (Tg)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
208.9
61.5
44.7
16.8
+
71.5
71.5
152
27,697.1
2.5
1.8
0.7
+
4.4
4.4
8.5
1,928.6
+ Less than .05 billion gallons or Tg C02 as appropriate
— Not calculated
* Volume and energy figures include biofuels blended into motor fuel
International Bunker Fuels*
(Tg CO Equivalent)
Change from
1990 to 2009
Source 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008 2009 Absolute Percent
Marine Residual Fuel Oil
Marine Distillate Fuel Oil
Aviation Jet Fuel
Total
53.7
11.7
46.4
111.8
39.3
9.3
51.2
99.8
33.3
6.3
58.8
98.5
43.6
9.4
56.7
109.7
49.2
9.0
75.5
133.7
45.4
8.3
69.4
123.1
-8.3
-3.4
23.0
11.3
-15.5
-28.9
49.6
10.1
* This document includes international bunker fuels, fuels used for international transport activities by commercial aircraft and
ships, although they are not included in the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, 1990-2009. See page
4 for more information on the Inventory. Fluctuations in emissions estimates from the combustion of residual fuel oil are
associated with fluctuations in reported fuel consumption and may reflect data collection problems.
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Additional Information
Data Sources for This Document
The source for all data in this document is the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
and Sinks 1990-2009 (EPA 2011). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prepares the
national emissions inventory annually to fulfill our commitment under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), using calculation methods that are
consistent with guidelines from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC).
Complete information on this inventory is available at: www.epa.gov/climatechange/
ghgemissions/usinventoryreport.html. The inventory methods and assumptions related to
transportation and non-transportation mobile sources are available in the main body of the
Inventory and Annex 3.2.
Definitions of Selected Transportation Categories
Passenger Cars: Automobiles used primarily to transport less than 10 passen-
gers. In 2009, the average fuel economy for passenger cars was 22.60 miles per
gallon (mpg), and passenger cars traveled a total of 1,630,768 million vehicle
miles.
Light-Duty Trucks: Pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), minivans,
and similar vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less
than 8,500 pounds. GVWR is the maximum weight a vehicle is designed to
carry when passengers, fuel, cargo, and any other additions to the vehicle are
accounted for. In this document, trucks with 2 axles and 4 tires (that are not
otherwise categorized as passenger cars) represent the light duty truck category.
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks: Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) of more than 8,500 pounds. For medium- and heavy-duty trucks,
GVWR is the sum of the weight of the vehicle plus the maximum weight of
the cargo that the vehicle can carry. In this document, single unit trucks (with
at least 2 axles and 6 tires) and combination trucks represent the medium- and
heavy-duty truck category, including tractor-trailers and box trucks used for
freight transportation. In addition, this category includes some vehicles that are
not typically used for freight movement such as service and utility trucks.
Pipelines: Systems that transport liquids, gases, or slurries through either above or
below ground pipes. In the Inventory, the pipelines category includes emissions
from the combustion of natural gas used to power pumps and other distribution
equipment, while leaks and other emission sources from pipelines are assigned to
the natural gas systems category.
Emissions Metrics
A Teragram (Tg) is equal to 1 million metric tons.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are measured in this document in terms of Teragrams of
"carbon dioxide equivalent" (CO2 Eq); an "equivalent" refers to the Global Warming Potential
(GWP) of a greenhouse gas. GWP values are determined based on the chosen time horizon and
properties of the gas, such as the ability to absorb radiation and its atmospheric lifetime. CO2
has a GWP of "1"; all other greenhouse gases have GWP values relative to that of CO2. For
example, methane (CH ) has a radiative forcing value3 or GWP of 21, which means that releasing
one ton of CH is equivalent to releasing 21 tons of CO2.
The data in this document is based on the 100-year time horizon GWP values from the Inter-
governmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC's) Second Assessment Report, in accordance
with UNFCCC reporting guidelines for national GHG inventories. More information on green-
house gases, radiative forcing, and GWPs can be found in the sources listed below.
Additional GWP Information Sources
www.epa.gov/climatechange/index.html
www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/global-warming-potential.html
www.epa.gov/highgwp/
3 Radiative forcing is a measure of the influence a factor has in altering the balance of incoming and outgoing
energy in the Earth-atmosphere system and is an index of the importance of the factor as a potential climate
change mechanism (www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr.pdf)
4
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