US greenhouse gas emissions drop 3.4% in 2012

 Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States(US) decreased 3.4% in 2012 from 2011 level, the 19th annual report released by theUS Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says.The Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, submitted annually to theSecretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,presents a national-level overview of annual greenhouse gas emissions since 1990Decrease in energy consumption in all sectors of the economy, as well as decrease incarbon intensity for electricity generation due to fuel switching from coal to naturalgas contributed to the GHG emissions drop.Higher fuel efficiency and limited new demand for passenger transportationdecreased GHG emissions in this sector. GHG are the primary driver of climate change. They cause health issues, rise indisease-spreading insects, heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather events.Under President Barack Obama’s Climate Action Plan, EPA is addressing carbonpollution from the power and transportation sectors. It is pushing to improveenergy efficiency in homes, businesses and factories.This includes increasing fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks for model years 2012-2025 that, over the lifetime of these vehicles, will save Americans more than$1.7 Trillion. EPA also increased energy efficiency through the Energy Starprogramme that saved Americans more than $26 Billion in utility bills in 2012.According to the report, GHG emissions in 2012 showed a 10 percent drop below2005 levels. Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2012 wereequivalent to 6,526 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. These gases includecarbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydro fluorocarbons, per fluorocarbons andsulphur hexafluoride.