Starting in 2007, carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. began dropping off and by 2013 had been cut by 11 percent.
Many have attributed the drop in CO2 to the switch from coal to natural gas to generate electricity, as natural gas production in the U.S. ramped up thanks to new fracking technologies. Even TreeHugger reported on a Harvard study that suggested a correlation between lower gas prices and a drop in CO2.
But a new study from researchers at the University of Maryland suggests that the economic recession was a bigger driver in the drop in carbon emissions. The study, published in Nature Communications, compares various factors that contributed to the decreased emissions.
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The researchers found that the sharpest decline in CO2 happened during the worst of the recession, between 2007 and 2009. During that time, they calculate that 83 percent of the decrease is due to economic factors like consumption and production. As the economy started to recover after 2009, emission crept back up.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Thursday July 23 2015, @07:51PM
Here is some additional information on how we know who emits what.
National Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel-Burning Power Plants as Measured by Acid Rain Program Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) [epa.gov]
The Acid Rain Program (ARP), created under Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments, works to reduce emissions of SO2 and NOx, primarily from fossil fuel-burning electricity generation, to reduce acid deposition and improve air quality. The program employs continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) that measure smokestack emissions of SO2, NOx, and carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2emissions from ARP sources (primarily coal-burning power plants) constitute about 40 percent of total U.S. CO2 emissions.
(Score: 2) by ikanreed on Thursday July 23 2015, @08:06PM
Yeah, but the point is, where did the false causality claim come from?
Oh, who the fuck am I kidding, it was fracking companies trying to promote a green brand.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Thursday July 23 2015, @09:38PM
Yeah, but the point is, where did the false causality claim come from?
It came from The International Energy Agency (IEA). [energyindepth.org]