GHG statistics from the largest emitters in the US have been made publically available for the first time, via a new online database tool launched by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), promoting industry-wide transparency across the country.

 

The GHG online data publication tool enables users to view 2010 GHG data from more than 6, 700 facilities across nine high emission industry groups, including suppliers of certain fossil fuels.

The 2010 data, released this week, accounts for 80% of total US GHG emissions that year. The figures reveal that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions accounted for the largest share of direct emissions followed by methane (4%), nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases account for the remaining 1%.

The GHG emissions database is the latest result of the EPA's Reporting Program, launched in October 2009 as stipulated by the FY2008 Consolidate Appropriations Act. This act requires large GHG emitters across a wide range of industries to report their emissions levels.

It is hoped that the US EPA led transparency drive will help businesses track emissions, identify costs and fuel-saving efficiencies, identify industry leaders, inform policy at the state and local levels and provide important information to the finance and investment communities.

"Thanks to strong collaboration and feedback from the industry, states and other organizations, today we have a transparent, powerful data resource available to the public," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for the EPA's office of Air and Radiation.

 

 

Image source:http://fresh-energy.org/2012/01/epa-maps-out-the-country's-main-global-warming-culprits