Tweet [3]

[4] [5]

blog-feature-2100.jpg [6]

It's no wonder the State Department avoided any press attention over the latest US Climate Action Report released on Friday. (see this previous post [7] for details).

You can find the whole report here [8] - I've taken the liberty of highlighting some of the more interesting quotes that I'm sure the White House would love to sweep under the rug…

From the section "Greenhouse Gas Inventory:" (pdf) [9]

• "In 2004, total greenhouse gas emissions rose to 7,074.4 teragrams of carbon dioxide equivalent, which was 15.8% above 1990 emissions."

• "From 1990 through 2004, US greenhouse gas emissions increased by 15.8 percent. Specifically, C02 emissions increased by 20 percent, CH4 and N20 emissions decreased by 10 and 2 percent, respectively."

From the section "Projected Greenhouse Gas Emissions:" (pdf) [10]

• "Over the same period from 2002 to 2012, while GHG [greenhouse gas] intensity is declining, total gross GHG emissions are expected to rise by 11 percent."

• Table 5-2 in the same section reports that even if the US fully implements its climate programs and measures, total greenhouse gas emissions will continue to rise between 2012 and 2020.

• "From 2000 to 2020 total C02 emissions [from energy consumption] - as calculated with Full Implementation of Climate Program Measures - are projected to rise by 17 percent…"

From the section "Impacts and Adaptation:" (pdf) [11]

• "…despite increases in winter precipitation, in many places a large percentage of the traditionally snow-covered areas of the northwestern United States has experienced a decline in spring snow-pack, especially since the middle of the 20th century."

• "The warmer temperatures projected with rising concentrations of greenhouse gases are expected to exacerbate present risks of drought in the United States."

• "In recognition of significant potential impacts from climate change, the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act states: 'Because global warming may result in substantial sea-level rise with serious adverse effects in the coastal zone, coastal states must anticipate and plan for such an occurrence."