A greenhouse gas emissions inventory for Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory presented in this paper provides detailed estimates of emissions and their sources for the six major categories of GHGs. The inventory was compiled using the current U.S. Environment Protection Agency methodology, which applies emissions factors to socioeconomic data, such as fossil energy use, vehicle miles traveled, and industrial production. The paper also contains an assessment of the methodology and suggestions for improving accounting with respect to process, sectoral, and geographic considerations. The study found that Pennsylvania emitted 77.4 million metric tons carbon equivalent of GHGs in 1990 and that this total increased by 3% to 79.8 million metric tons carbon equivalent by 1999. Despite this increase, however, the state's percentage contribution to the United States total declined during the decade. Pennsylvania's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels represented 92.4% of 1990 totals and declined to 90.5% in 1999. Electricity generation was the largest single source of CO2 emissions, being responsible for 38% of fossil fuel CO2 emissions in 1990 and 40% of the total in 1999. Transportation emissions accounted for the largest increases in emissions between 1990 and 1999, whereas industrial emissions accounted for the largest decrease. The overall trend indicates that Pennsylvania has been able to weaken the relationship between GHG emissions and economic growth.
Rose
Adam
A
Department of Geography and Center for Integrated Regional Assessment, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. azr1@psu.edu
Neff
Rob
R
Yarnal
Brent
B
Greenberg
Howard
H
D000383:Agriculture; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D004560:Electricity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000032:analysis; D017745:Incineration; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000032:analysis; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
D000393:Air Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D008697:Methane; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride