Despite the best efforts of many facility managers leading the charge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions rose 3.4 percent in 2018, according to The Washington Post.
The increase in emissions are due to a “booming economy,” according to the article, as well as to many of the Trump Administration’s rollbacks of environmental regulations. Breaking out some of the sources of the rise, emissions from electricity generation rose 1.9 percent in 2018, and those from transportation rose 1 percent.
Overall, U.S. emissions have decreased since 2005, due to advances in technology and a shift from coal-fired electricity generation to natural gas and renewables. Still, the increase in admissions in 2018 makes it unlikely the United States can meet Paris Climate Accord targets by 2020.
Greg Zimmerman is executive editor of Building Operating Management. Read his cover story on how buildings are tackling climate change.
