GHGRP Emissions by GHG
Carbon dioxide is the GHG emitted in the largest quantities. The 2.58 billion metric tons of CO2 reported for 2019 represent 90.5 percent of the GHGs reported in 2019a. Methane emissions represent 8.1 percent of reported 2019 GHG emissions, N2O represents 0.8 percent, and fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6) represent 0.6 percent (Figure 1).
aThe Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Sinks for 2019 is not yet available. In 2018, CO2 represented 81 percent of total U.S. GHG emissions.
Figure 1: Direct Emissions by GHG (2019)
The table below lists the primary sectors emitting each GHG.
| Greenhouse Gas | Source Categories Contributing Most to Emissions1 | Sectors Contributing Most to Emissions |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 | Electricity Generation (D), Stationary Combustion (C) | Power Plants, Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems |
| CH4 | Petroleum & Natural Gas Systems (W), Municipal Landfills (HH) | Waste, Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems |
| N2O | Nitric Acid Production (V), Electricity Generation (D), Adipic Acid Production (E) | Chemicals, Power Plants |
| SF6 | SF6 from Electrical Equipment (DD), Electronics Manufacturers (I) | Other, Metals |
| NF3 | Electronics Manufacturers (I) | Other |
| HFCs | HCFC–22 Production and HFC–23 Destruction (O), Fluorinated Gas Production (L) | Chemicals, Other |
| PFCs | Electronics Manufacturers (I), Fluorinated Gas Production (L), Aluminum Production (F) | Other, Chemicals, Metals |
1 These source categories account for 75 percent or more of the reported emissions of the corresponding GHG. The subpart under which the emissions were reported is shown in parentheses.