Surprise Side Effect Of Shale Gas Boom: A Plunge In U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Forbes ^ | 12/7/2012 | Julie M. Carey

[EBH]

In the first quarter of this year, U.S. carbon emissions hit a 20-year low. As Figure 1 below demonstrates, the U.S. has observed substantial reductions in CO2 emissions over the last five years. These reductions contrast with the increases in CO2 emissions that the Energy Information Administration forecasted in 1998 when the U.S. was considering committing to CO2 emissions reductions in the Kyoto Agreement. At the time of these discussions, the EIA estimated that CO2 emissions would increase at a rate of approximately 1.3 percent annually through 2020. In fact, to reach the Kyoto Agreement target for 2012, the U.S. would have needed to reduce CO2 emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels—to approximately 4,700 million metric tons.

Fast forward to 2012: The U.S. achieved approximately 70% of the CO2 emissions reductions targeted under Kyoto (as compared to the 1998 EIA CO2 forecast). That’s substantial progress.

[EBH]

Did you know the United States is one of only two countries to even reduce CO2 emissions at all?

Does anyone realize we're below 1995 levels already?

Why am I, a conservative, even posting this as we all know the GHG and Global Warming thing is bunk...right?

I think, knowledge is power. And if we use information like this we can indeed stop the environmentalist dogma in its tracks.

Take a look at the charts included in this well written article. We were able to achieve these results without the draconian measures the 0bama regime is about to lay upon the nation.

There may very well be a highly viable arguement that what 0bama wants...is not needed at all.

[EBH]

Ping

[The_Media_never_lie]

What Obama wants was never needed at all. A big motivator were his cronies who were lined up to cash in on this scheme, I.e. carbon credit trading.

Sham science, but real world hucksters.

[9YearLurker]

Thanks—good stuff.

[EBH]

No it was never needed at all, but that is somewhat my point in posting this article.

It is very important that we start to get ahead of the curve in the propaganda war.

I think the findings in the article are stunning, when presented against the environmentalist meme.

I just read something about the UN hoping America gets on board with the carbon scheme....uh...based on this information it is the UN that needs to “get on board.” We’re so far ahead of the world on this they are going to need to be buying credits from us!

[servantboy777]

Since the 70’s there has been talk of converting fleet vehicles to natural gas. Why has this effort stalled for decades.

Natural gas is plentiful and cleaner burning than gasoline.

If the infrastructure were put into place, I’d purchase a NG pickup in a heartbeat.

[thackney]

Clean Energy is America's largest provider of natural gas fuel for transportation — your connection to natural gas fueling. Trucks powered by cleaner, cheaper, domestic natural gas will soon travel the country on America's Natural Gas Highway®, our network of LNG truck fueling stations on Interstate Highways connecting major metropolitan areas coast-to-coast and border-to-border.

The first phase includes approximately 150 LNG fueling stations with more than 70 anticipated in 33 states by the end of 2012 and the balance in 2013. Many will be co-located at Pilot-Flying J Travel Centers already serving goods movement trucking.

- - - - -

And they are not the only ones.

There are also many companies that started converting their fleets to natural gas, both CNG and LNG depending on the application.

[bert]

Do you realize that these numbers are like the U3 unemployment numbers........ fiction.

Do you realize that reducing is never enough? As long as there is any there is catastrophic danger to some ever decreasing few. (Enviro perspective)

balderdash

[servantboy777]

That is cool. Thanx for the info.

Still think for the average Joe, traveling cross country using natural gas is a few years off.

[EBH]

bert, the point of posting this was it uses their own “results” to fight the environmentalists.

When the next enviro-whacko spouts off about climate change or carbon etc. we can calmly point out there has been a 70% ruduction, we’re below 1995 levels, and China needs to be trading carbon credits against our debt to them. LOL.

[Erik Latranyi]

When the next enviro-whacko spouts off about climate change or carbon etc. we can calmly point out there has been a 70% ruduction, we’re below 1995 levels, and China needs to be trading carbon credits against our debt to them. LOL.

But we could do so much more if only we eliminated all carbon-based energy and switched to solar, wind, urine or whatever is the energy-du-jour of a whackos.

They will say it is proof we can reduce the volume if we only change our ways enough.....and changing does not stop until total socialism is in place.

[Erik Latranyi]

Yeah, and the data saying that we have had 11 years of temperature declines was dismissed quickly and replaced with Hurricane Sandy.

[Incorrigible]

Bump

[EBH]

So ....what will be your counter arguement based on the information presented here.

(PS. I am having this very arguement on my FB page with a socialist nut from Sweden this morning)

[EBH]

Which instead of blaming the United States, we should be looking and pointing the finger at the rest of the world?

Maybe they should be using their carbon credits to restore that which they destroyed, because they failed at reducing their carbon footprints? LOL.

[sasquatch]

for later...

[Right Wing Assault]

Time to use the obama tax argument.

“It’s about time the rest of the world starts doing their fair share.”

[Lorianne]

Our CO2 emmisions have been drastically reduced because we have been/are in an economic depression.

Has nothing to do with shale gas or any overt political measures.

Economic growth = consuming more energy

Economic stagnation/decline = consuming less energy

[EBH]

Lorianne,

If one reads the entire article they do touch on that point, but acknowledge it is overall a minor thing. Not as major a player as you think.

[TruthWillWin]

This is not good. Recent data indicates the earth is cooling. We have been told that carbon contributes 2 global warming, if this is true then we need to put more carbon in the air to reverse the cooling trend.

I have two SUV's and a 40 foot Motorhome. Doing my part, how about you?