Executive Summary

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levels include (1) changes in demand for energy and (2) a general decline in the carbon intensity of fuels combusted
for energy in recent years by most sectors of the economy. Between 1990 and 2015, CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel
combustion increased from 4,740.7 MMT CO 2 Eq. to 5,049.2 MMT CO 2 Eq., a 6.5 percent total increase over the
twenty-six-year period. In addition, CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion decreased from 2005 levels by 698.0
MMT CO 2 Eq., a decrease of approximately 12.1 percent between 2005 to 2015. From 2014 to 2015, these
emissions decreased by 153.0 MMT CO 2 Eq. (2.9 percent).
Historically, changes in emissions from fossil fuel combustion have been the dominant factor affecting U.S.
emission trends. Changes in CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion are influenced by many long-term and
short-term factors. Long-term factors include population and economic trends, technological changes, shifting
energy fuel choices, and various policies at the national, state, and local level. In the short term, the overall
consumption of fossil fuels in the United States fluctuates primarily in response to changes in general economic
conditions, energy prices, weather, and the availability of non-fossil alternatives.
Figure ES-6: 2015 CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuel Combustion by Sector and Fuel Type (MMT
CO2 Eq.)
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Figure ES-7: 2015 End-Use Sector Emissions of CO2 from Fossil Fuel Combustion (MMT CO2
Eq.)
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The five major fuel consuming economic sectors contributing to CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion are
electricity generation, transportation, industrial, residential, and commercial. Carbon dioxide emissions are produced
by the electricity generation sector as they consume fossil fuel to provide electricity to one of the other four sectors,
10 DRAFT Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990–2015