The US industries with the highest greenhouse gas emissions

Every year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues an exhaustive report on greenhouse gas emissions, by source, economic sector and other factors that track data going back to 1990. The latest report, made public in late October, is a sobering look at the challenges industries face in stemming the gases they emit. The report also tracks carbon sinks, i.e., anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases. The latest available data in the new report is from 2022.

“Since 1990, gross U.S. greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by just over 3 percent. From year to year, emissions can rise and fall due to changes in the economy, the price of fuel, and other factors,” the report found. “In 2022, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased 0.2 percent compared to 2021 levels. In 2020, there was a sharp decline in emissions largely due to the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on travel and other economic activity.”

The post-pandemic rebound has also played a role. GHG emissions increased in 2021-22 as the economy recovered, driving fossil fuel use. “In 2022, CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion increased by 8 percent relative to 2020 and 1 percent relative to 2021,” according to the report.

1. Transportation

Nearly all the fuel used for transportation comes from gasoline and diesel. Transportation sector is the largest source of direct GHG emissions, and the second-largest source when indirect emissions are included.

2. Electricity production

Although coal-fired power plants are dwindling, in 2022, 60 percent of U.S. electricity still came from fossil fuels.

3. Industry

“Greenhouse gas emissions from industry primarily come from burning fossil fuels for energy, as well as greenhouse gas emissions from certain chemical reactions necessary to produce goods from raw materials,” according to the report.

4. Commercial and residential

HVAC and refrigeration produce the largest emissions from buildings, and the commercial/residential sector also produces “non-building specific emissions such as the handling of waste.” Buildings use 75 percent of the electricity generated in the U.S., for HVAC, lighting, appliances and so on.

5. Agriculture

Cows, agricultural soils and rice production, including power for irrigation, produce the most emissions from growing crops and producing food.

6. Land use and forestry

“Managed forests” and other lands offset 13 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by acting as carbon sinks.

To prepare the report,  EPA collaborated with hundreds of experts representing more than a dozen U.S. government agencies, universities, industry groups, consultants and environmental organizations. EPA also collects greenhouse gas emissions data from individual facilities and suppliers of certain fossil fuels and industrial gases.

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