United States
Environmental Protection
^1 M % Agency
430-F-21-010
Data Highlights
Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019
About the Greenhouse Gas Inventory
EPA's annual report, the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks (the Inventory), provides a
comprehensive accounting of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks by source, economic sector, and greenhouse
gas going back to 1990. This technical overview summarizes the latest information on U.S. anthropogenic greenhouse
gas emission trends from 1990 through 2019 and includes a preliminary outlook on 2020 emissions. The estimates
presented are calculated using methodologies consistent with those recommended in the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (IPCC 2006) and where appropriate, its
supplements and refinements.
In preparing the annual Inventory, EPA collaborates with hundreds of experts representing more than a dozen U.S.
government agencies, academic institutions, industry associations, consultants, and environmental organizations. EPA
also collects greenhouse gas emission data from individual facilities and suppliers of certain fossil fuels and industrial
gases through its Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP). The GHGRP does not provide full coverage of total
annual U.S. greenhouse emissions and sinks (e.g., the GHGRP excludes emissions from the agricultural, land use, and
forestry sectors), but it is an important input to the calculations of national-level emissions in the Inventory.
Highlights of Recent Trends in Emissions and Sinks
GHG emissions show long-term decline since 2005
In 2019, total gross U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 6,558 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMT
CO2 Eq.). Net emissions (including sinks) were 5,769 MMT CO2 Eq, From 2005 to 2019, net emissions declined 13
percent, reflecting the combined impacts of long-term trends in many factors including population, economic growth,
energy markets, technological changes including energy efficiency, and energy fuel choices. The decline in recent years
is due to an increasing shift to use of less C02-intensive natural gas for generating electricity and a rapid increase in the
use of renewable energy in the electric power sector. Between 2018 and 2019, greenhouse gas emissions decreased by
almost 2 percent due to multiple factors, including a 1 percent decrease in total energy use. Net emissions in 2019 were 4
percent higher than in 1990.
Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Gas
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
-1,000
cr
LU
o
o
HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and NF3
Nitrous Oxide
Methane
Carbon Dioxide
Net C02 Flux from LULUCF
Net Emissions
(Including Sinks)
O^-CNICO^lfiCDNCOOOT— CMCO^m0SCOC35OT— CMCOTrmiDNCOQ
CDCDCDCnCDCnCDCDCDCDOOOOOOOOOOT-^-T-^T-T-T-T-T-T-
CDCDCDCnCDCDCDCDCnCDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
t— t— t— t— t— v— t— t— CM CM CM C\J CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM
Data Highlights: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019
Page 1

-------
More about Carbon Dioxide
CO2 is the primary greenhouse gas contributing to total U.S. emissions, accounting for 80 percent of the total in 2019.
Total CO2 emissions decreased 2 percent between 2018 and 2019. In 2019, fossil fuel combustion (e.g., for electric power
generation) accounted for over 92 percent of CO2 emissions. Changes in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion are
influenced by many of the same long-term and short-term factors already noted above. Fossil fuel combustion CO2
emissions also depend on the type of fuel consumed (e.g., natural gas) and its carbon intensity.
Other sources of U.S. CO2 emissions include non-combustion emissions from industrial processes (e.g., cement
production) and changes in land use, and are shown in the figure below. Land use, land-use change, and forestry
(LULUCF) activities include fluxes of carbon resulting from land use conversions (e.g., emissions from conversion of forest
land to agricultural or urban use) or land use management practices that remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in
long-term carbon sinks (e.g., through net forest growth). The LULUCF sector offset about 12 percent of total gross U.S.
emissions in 2019 and is a steady sink across the 1990 to 2019 time series. Major U.S. sinks include long-term forests
and recent conversions of other land uses to forests.
2019 Sources of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions
Fossil Fuel Combustion
Non-Energy Use of Fuels
Petroleum Systems
Iron and Steel Production
Cement Production
Natural Gas Systems
Petrochemical Production
Other Industrial Processes
Ammonia Production
Lime Production
Incineration of Waste
Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells
Net Carbon Stock Change from LULUCF
4,857
C02 as a Portion of
All Emissions
iC02
iCH4
IN20
i HFCs, PFCs, SFfi and NF
80%
-40 -20 0 20 40
More about Methane
CH4 accounted for 10 percent of emissions and
has decreased by nearly 4 percent since 2005
and 15 percent since 1990. Emissions
increased by less than 1 percent from 2018 to
2019. Key trends include reduced emissions
from natural gas systems due to decreases in
emissions from distribution, transmission, and
storage; decreases in emissions from landfills
due to increased landfill gas collection and less
decomposable materials discarded in landfills;
and increased emissions from livestock in line
with increasing cattle populations.
More about Nitrous Oxide
N2O accounted for 7 percent of emissions and
has decreased by 1 percent since 1990.
Emissions decreased by less than 1 percent
from 2018 to 2019. Key trends in N2O
emissions are influenced by changes in
emissions from agricultural soils due to
interannual weather patterns, fertilizer use, and
crop production; a small decrease of N2O
emissions from stationary combustion; and a
decrease of N2O emissions from mobile
combustion due to national emission control
standards and technologies for on-road
vehicles.
60 80 100 120
MMT C02 Eq.
140 160 180 200
2019 Sources of Methane (CH4) Emissions
Enteric Fermentation
Natural Gas Systems
Landfills
Manure Management
Coal Mining
Petroleum Systems
Wastewater Treatment
Rice Cultivation
Other Energy
Stationary Combustion
Composting
Field Burning of Agricultural Residues
Other Industrial Processes
Anaerobic Digestion at Biogas Facilities
¦179
CH4 as a Portion
of All Emissions
10%
ICO,
ich4
IN20
I HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and NF3
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
MMT C02 Eq.
2019 Sources of Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Emissions
Agricultural Soil Management
Wastewater Treatment
Stationary Combustion
Manure Management
Mobile Combustion
Nitric Acid Production
Other Industrial Processes
Adipic Acid Production
Composting
Other Energy
Field Burning of Agricultural Residues
Petroleum Systems
15 20
MMT CO,
N20 as a Portion
of All Emissions
7%
C02
CH
N20
HFCs, PFCs, SF„ and NF
Data Highlights: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019
Page 2

-------
More about Fluorinated Gases
Emissions of fluorinated gases accounted for
nearly 3 percent of emissions and have
increased by 26 percent since 2005 and 85
percent since 1990. Emissions increased by
less than 3 percent since 2018. Key trends
include a significant increase in HFCs and
PFCs resulting from the substitution of ozone
depleting substances (ODS) as a result of
efforts to phase out CFCs and other ODS in
the U.S. and increases in emissions from the
electronics industry reflecting the competing
influences of industrial growth and the
adoption of emission reduction technologies.
2019 Sources of Fluorinated (HFCs, PFCs, SFe, and NF3) Emissions
Substitution of Ozone Depleting
Substances
Electronics Industry
Electrical Transmission and Distribution
HCFC-22 Production
Aluminum Production
Magnesium Production and Processing
1171
HFCs, PFCs, SF6,
and NFj as a Portion
of All Emissions
i HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and NF3
10 15 20
MMT C02 Eq.
Emissions by Economic Sector
Greenhouse gases are emitted across five economic sectors: transportation, electric power (electricity generation),
residential/commercial (homes and businesses), industry, and agriculture. For more information on trends in the land use,
land use change and forestry sector, see textbox above titled More about Carbon Dioxide.
U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Allocated to Economic Sectors*
2,500
Electric Power Industry
Transportation
2,000
Industry
1,500
1,000
Agriculture
Commercial
500
Residential
0

CNJ
co
"3"
m
CO
r—
co
CD
O
T—
CN
CO
"3-
IT)
CD
h-
OO
CD
O
T—
CNJ
CO
"3"
LO
CD
r^-
CO
CD
03
CT>
CD
CD
CD
a>
CD
CD
g>
CD
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
T—
t—
r—
T—

T	
t—
T—
T—
T	
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
T—
T—
¦*-
¦*-
T—
T—

T-


CNJ
CNJ
CM
CNI
CNI
CNI
CNJ
CNI
CNJ
CNJ
CNJ
CNJ
CNJ
CNJ
CNJ
CNJ
CNJ
CNJ
CNI
CNJ
'Land use sinks and U.S. Territories are excluded from this figure.
Transportation Sector
Transportation activities are the largest source of emissions, accounting for 29 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions in 2019. From 1990 to 2019, transportation CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion rose by 24 percent due
in large part to increased demand for travel. The number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by light-duty vehicles (i.e.,
passenger cars and light-duty trucks) increased by 48 percent from 1990 to 2019; VMT by medium- and heavy-duty
trucks increased 109 percent over the same period. While an increased demand for travel has led to increasing CO2
emissions since 1990, improvements in average new vehicle fuel economy since 2005 has slowed the rate of increase of
CO2 emissions. In 2019, light-duty vehicles represented 58 percent of CO2 emissions from transportation fossil fuel
combustion and medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses represented 25 percent. Petroleum-based products supplied
95 percent of the energy used for transportation, with 60 percent from gasoline consumption in automobiles and other
highway vehicles. Diesel fuel for freight trucks and jet fuel for aircraft accounted for 25 and 10 percent of fuel
consumption, respectively. The remaining 5 percent of petroleum-based energy used for transportation was supplied by
natural gas, residual fuel, aviation gasoline, and liquefied petroleum gases.
Data Highlights: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019
Page 3

-------
Fuels Used in Transportation Sector, Onroad VMT, and Total Sector CO2 Emissions
3
£
CD
(/)
z>
>*
O)
30.000
25,000
20.000
15,000
10,000
5,000

140
120
100 o
Oj
80
60
40
20
OT-C\J(0^ii)CDSOOO)OT-CNJCO^inCDNCOO)OT-CMC
0)050)0)d)C3)0)0)0)0)OOOOOOOOOOr-r-T-T-r-T-T-T-\-x-
CDCDCDCnCDCDCDCnCDCriOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
t-t-t-t—'.-t— 1— r-t— t-CNCNCNJC\JCNCNJCNJCNJCNJCNCNJCNOsJCvJCNCNJC\JCNJCNJC\J
X
a>
TJ
c
Other Fuels
Residual Fuel
Natural Gas
Renewable Energy
Jet Fuel
Distillate Fuel
Motor Gasoline
VMT [Right Axis]
C02 Emissions [Right Axis]
Electric Power Sector
The electric power sector accounted for 25 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. Emissions from the
electric power sector have decreased by approximately 12 percent since 1990, while the carbon intensity of the electric
power sector, in terms of emissions (CO2 Eq.) per QBtu input, has decreased by 27 percent during that same timeframe.
This decoupling of electric power generation and the resulting CO2 emissions is shown below.
Electric Power Generation and Emissions
40,000
35,000
— 30,000
3
H	25,000
|	20,000
I	15,000

X
O)
-o
Nuclear Generation
Renewable Generation
Petroleum Generation
Natural Gas Generation
Coal Generation
C02 Emissions [Right Axis]
Net Generation [Right Axis]
OT-CNCO^inOSCOOiOT-CNfO^LOCDNOOaiOr-CNCO^-lflCDSCOO)
CT)CDCr>C7)Cr>(J)Cr>C7)CT>C7)0000000000-<— T— T— T— T— T— •<—	T—
CDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDCnCnOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
T— T— T— T— X— T-T— T— T-T— C\ICNC\JC\lC\lC\IC\jCMC\JCMC\JCNC\JC\JC\IC\JCMC\JCNC\J
Trends in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion have been strongly influenced by the electric power sector, which
until recently has accounted for the largest share of these emissions. The types of fuel consumed to produce electricity
have changed in recent years. Total electric power generation decreased by 1.3 percent from 2018 to 2019. However,
CO2 emissions decreased 8.4 percent from 2018 to 2019 due to increasing electric power generation from natural gas
and renewables and decreasing generation from coal. Carbon dioxide emissions from coal consumption for electric power
generation decreased by 52 percent since 2005. The decrease in coal-powered electricity generation and increase in
natural gas and renewable electricity generation have contributed to a 33 percent decrease in overall CO2 emissions from
electric power generation from 2005 to 2019.
Commercial and Residential Sectors
The commercial and residential sectors accounted for 7 and 6 percent total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2019,
respectively. Emissions from the commercial and residential sectors have increased since 1990 and short-term trends are
often correlated with seasonal fluctuations in energy use caused by weather conditions. Carbon dioxide emissions from
natural gas consumption in the residential and commercial sectors increased by 0.5 percent and 0.1 percent from 2018 to
2019, respectively. This trend can be attributed to a slight increase in heating degree days (0.6 percent), which led to an
increased demand for heating fuel in these sectors.
Data Highlights: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019
Page 4

-------
Fuels Used in Residential and Commercial Sectors, Heating and Cooling Degree Days, and Total Sector
CO2 Emissions
20,000
5 15,000
CO
10,000
o>
5,000
v_ . C\J CO ^ IO CD f--OO O O ¦«-CM CO -3" LO CD CO CT> O ¦«—CsJ CO ^ IT) CD h-CO CD
C7>0>0>0>cj)0^0^c7>0)050000000000r—t—¦*—t—t—>*—x—t— t—t—
OOCftOOOOOOCDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
T—T-T-T—T—T—T—T—t-t-CvJCNJCNJCNJCnJCMCNCNJOJCNJCNJCMcnJCNJCNJCNCMCNJCNCNJ
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
X
a)
TJ
Coal
Renewable Energy Sources
Petroleum
Natural Gas
Electricity Use
C02 Emissions [Right Axis]
Heating and Cooling Degree Days
[Right Axis]
Industry
The industrial sector accounted for 23 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. Since 1990, industrial sector
emissions have declined by 8 percent. Structural changes within the U.S. economy that led to shifts in industrial output
away from energy-intensive manufacturing products to less energy-intensive products (e.g., from steel to computer
equipment) have had a significant effect on industrial emissions. EPA's GHGRP data provide insights into underlying
trends in the industrial sector. Between 2018 and 2019, industrial sector coal consumption decreased, and natural gas
consumption remained relatively flat across all industries.
Agriculture
Agriculture accounted for about 11 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 and includes sources such as
enteric fermentation in domestic livestock, livestock manure management, N2O from agricultural soil management, and
combustion from agricultural equipment. In 2019, agricultural soil management was the largest source of N2O emissions,
and enteric fermentation was the largest source of CH4 emissions in the United States. Changes in agricultural soil
carbon stocks are included in the land use sector,
Preliminary Outlook for 2020
Carbon dioxide emissions from
fossil fuel combustion represent
about 74 percent of total U.S. CO2
emissions. Prior to the COVID-19
pandemic, 2020 fossil fuel
combustion emissions were
projected to decrease by about 2
percent compared to 2019 (EIA
2020). However, the pandemic
reduced economic activity and
caused changes in energy demand
and supply across all energy end-
use sectors (EIA 2021). While the
current Inventory does not include
2020 estimates, preliminary energy
data are available and can be used
to project energy-related CO2
emissions. Preliminary 2020 data
are not available for other sectors to
provide projections. From 2019 to
2020, total energy use decreased by nearly 8 percent and fossil fuel combustion CO2 emissions decreased by roughly 11
percent (EIA 2021). The transportation sector saw some of the biggest reductions where gasoline use decreased by 13
percent and jet fuel use decreased by 38 percent. Overall U.S. electricity use decreased by 4 percent and the trend of
decreased coal use and increased use of natural gas and renewables continued (EPA 2021). Reduced economic and
manufacturing activity resulted in lower energy use in the commercial and industrial sectors and there was a mixed impact
on energy use in the residential sector due to stay at home orders increasing energy use combined with warmer
temperatures leading to lower energy demand.
Comparison of Fossil Fuel CO2 Combustion Emission Projections
o
o
6,000
5,500
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
Historic EIA
March 21 STEO
Jan 20 STEO Projection
"a-LncDr^oooox— cMco^mcoscoQOT-M
OOOOOOt— t-t— T— T— t-t-t— t-t-CNJC\|C\J
0000000000000000000
CMC\JC\ICMC\lCMC\iCMC\ICNCMCMCMCMC\|C\|CMCNCM
Data Highlights: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019
Page 5

-------
References
!PCC (2006) 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. The National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Programme, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, H.S. Eggleston, L. Buendia, K. Miwa, T Ngara, and K.
Tanabe (eds.). Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan. Available online at: https://www.ipce-naaip.iaes.or ip/publlc/2006a 1/
U.S. EIA (2020) Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO): January 2020. Available online at:
https://www.eia.aov/outlooks/steo/archives/Jan20.pdf
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2021) March 2021 Monthly Energy Review. Available online at:
https://www.eia.gov/totaienerqv/tiata/monthlv/previous.php
EPA (2021) Clean Air Markets: Power Plant Emission Trends. Available online at: https://www.epa.qov/airmarkets/power-
plant-emission-trends
For More Information
Additional resources and tools with more information and data related to the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory are
available at: https://www.epa.aov/qhqemissions/inventorv-us-qreenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks.
Fast Facts on the National-Level U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory and U.S. Transportation sector provide a quick
look at trends and an overview of findings
U.S. Transportation Sector
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
—tfttr
. III!!
The Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer
allows users to visualize the data underlying U.S.
Inventory estimates
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer
The full Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019 report here
provides access to in-depth information on data
sources and methodologies
Inventory of
U.S. Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and Sinks

Download CSVs of the Inventory report
tables for your own use
Data Highlights: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2019
Page 6

-------