The Energy Information Administration is reporting that carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. were down 7% last year. According to the report, one-third of the reduction was due to the recession, one-third to reduced energy intensity, and one-third to the use of cleaner energy.
The report concludes:
…longer-term trends continue to suggest decline in both the amount of energy used per unit of economic output and the carbon intensity of our energy supply, which both work to restrain emissions.
Emissions were down 3% in 2008. Thus, as Joe Romm notes, that puts us about halfway toward the goal of reducing carbon emissions 17% from 2005 levels by 2020.
Of course, these are minimal reductions necessary to begin to contain climate change and surely will not be sufficient. But this data suggests that the idea that we cannot make substantial reductions without ruining our economy is just bunk.
