U.S. Industrial Sector, Including P&P, Stands Alone in Reducing GHG Emissions

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The American Materials Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA), Washington, D.C., USA, a group of energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries (EITEs) that includes The Aluminum Association, the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), and Portland Cement Association (PCA), this week reported that between 1990 and 2008, industrials was the only sector of the U.S. economy in which greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fell. By contrast, during the same time period, GHG emissions rose in the commercial, electricity, residential, transportation, and agricultural sectors.

Last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that U.S. industrial GHG emissions fell more than 3% in 2009—an "unprecedented" reduction for the industrial sector for a single year. Driven largely by energy efficiency improvements, U.S. industrial GHG emissions fell 5.9% between 1990 and 2008. Meanwhile, commercial GHG emissions went up 36.9%, electricity increased 30%, residential increased 27.3%, transportation increased 21.6%, and agriculture increased 11.3%.

"Energy efficiency is a smart strategy to help improve the environment while reducing operating costs and retaining good American jobs," said Donna Harman, president and CEO of the American Forest and Paper Association. "America's forest products industry embraced renewable energy early on and today generates two-thirds of our own power on site from carbon-neutral, renewable biomass. Our members have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions per ton of product by 14% since 2000, and while we are proud of the accomplishments we've made so far, we can achieve more with the right policies that protect our international competitiveness."