Tuesday, (tax day--coincidence?) the U.S. EPA released its Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emission: 1990-2006. I haven't worked my way through the whole thing and I'm not sure I will (can you blame me?) but the graph to the right is my favorite so far. The U.S. is becoming more greenhouse gas efficient. That is, there is a distinct and unambiguous downward trend in greenhouse gas emissions per dollar GDP generated since 1990.
A few notes:
- Total greenhouse gas emisions seem to have leveled off since 2000 (and even took a slight dip in 2006--1%)
- Emissions per capita are fairly constant--if not falling slightly.
- We know, we know, GDP ignores most environmental damages.
