Carbon dioxide emissions caused by fossil fuel combustion fell 4% year-over-year in 2012, according to new figures from the EPA. The agency attributed the decrease in part to lower carbon intensity of fuels used by power producers, many of which embraced natural gas as prices fell and coal prices rose. EPA also noted a small increase in fuel efficiency across the transportation sector and a relatively warm winter that depressed demand for heating fuel. Fossil fuel-based CO2 emissions fell 12% over 2005 levels in 2012, but were still 6.9% above 1990 levels.
CO2 emissions from coal fell sharply in 2012 — 12% over 2011 levels and 7% lower than 1990 levels. It’s yet another sign of the wider embrace of natural gas over coal in the power sector. It remains to be seen how rising natural gas prices and recent harsh winter weather will affect the downward trajectory of emissions levels.
