Reuters recently reported that American GHG emissions related to energy fell 7% in 2009, which is the largest drop since emission recording started 60 years ago.The huge drop is credited to the recession, as well as more efficient fuel use.
But what does this mean for the environment? Environmental experts estimate that worldwide emissions need to drop by as much as 85% by 2050, which is currently an unreachable goal, given the political climate. However, there have been smaller steps towards reducing emissions. Effective on January 1, 2010, the EPA mandated monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions by major industries under the Clean Air Act, as a result of the 2007 Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA. In addition, the Kerry-Lieberman Cap and Trade Bill will be discussed on the floor as early as next week, assuming it gets close to 60 supporters.  Although we trail the EU’s efforts (which include a two-phase cap and trade system and the signing and ratification of the Kyoto Protocol), maybe continued domestic emissions reductions in the future is a possibility.