Greenhouse gas emissions which are blamed for global warming declined 3.27 percent in Iowa in 2012 compared with the previous year, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). However, even with the decline, greenhouse gas emissions in the state last year were more than 8 percent higher than seven years ago.
The lower emissions in 2012 were attributed to utilities generating less electricity from coal-fired power plants and the impact of the drought on the state's agricultural sector.
Greenhouse gas inventoried by the IDNR include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), perfluorocarbons (PFC), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
"The majority of CO2 emissions (98 percent) are from fossil fuel combustion," the IDNR report said. "The majority of all N2O emissions (85%) are from agricultural soils, and the majority of CH4 emissions (78%) are from enteric fermentation and manure management in the agriculture sector."
According to the IDNR, EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator estimates the reduction of Iowa greenhouse gas emissions in 2012 is equivalent to: annual greenhouse gas emissions from 941,362 passenger vehicles; the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of 621,703 homes for one year; the CO2 emissions from the energy use of 225,701 homes for one year; or the carbon sequestered annually by 115.9 million tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
CLICK HERE to download the IDNR's complete greenhouse gas emission inventory.
