U.S. greenhouse gas emission increases second year in a row

WASHINGTON – The United States saw a rise in the production of greenhouse gases for the last two years in a row.

A new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration found an increase of energy-related CO2 emissions in 2014, but it was less of an increase than what was reported for 2013. Gross domestic product (GDP) and emissions increased at roughly the same rate in 2013, 2.5 % for emissions and 2.2 % for GDP. In 2014, emissions only increased 0.7 %, but GDP increased 2.4 %.

The findings show the United States still has progress to make if it wants to lower emissions, as President Obama has expressed interest in doing, but the country might be on its way there.

“On March 31, 2015, the United States officially submitted its emissions-cutting target to the United Nations, committing to reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 26%-28% from 2005 levels by 2025,” the report reads. “This follows President Obama’s 2009 pledge to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to 17% below 2005 levels by 2020.”

The administration estimates emissions were 5,404 million metric tons of CO2 from energy-related sources in 2014.