Trucks and cars take the lead on US carbon emissions

Official figures from the US Energy Information Administration show that transport is now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

Figures released in December show that, up to 2017, 1.9 billion tonnes of carbon emissions were emitted from the transport sector, while 1.8 billion tonnes came electricity generation. In total, transport now accounts for 25% of all emissions.

The increase can be partly attributed to lower fuel prices in the US, but also to a decline in the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity. Renewable energy also plays a much stronger role in the US’ energy mix. The statistics also show that almost half of all new large-scale energy capacity in 2017 came from renewables.  
 

 

 

 

There are concerns that emissions from the transport sector could continue to rise as a result of the Trump administration’s laissez-faire approach to regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has already tabled plans to repeal emissions standards on trucks, which has been met with strong criticism from environmentalists.

The Environmental Defense Fund responded in a filing to the EPA that: “The proposal would advantage a narrow slice of the freight truck manufacturing industry by exempting them from vital safeguards at the expense of public health in communities across the country”.

Greg Archer, clean fuels director at transport NGO, T&E, also reacted strongly:

“Leaving aside the madness of tearing up rules that limit polluting and climate-changing emissions that directly affect millions of Americans, the Trump administration’s approach is seriously bad for American business. How will US carmakers be able to compete internationally with vehicles that don’t meet standards in most of the developed world? Letting them off the hook in terms of inefficiency may help carmakers sell slightly more cars in the US, but it damages them internationally”.