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Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP)

GHGRP Power Plants

 The power plant sector consists of facilities that produce electricity by combusting fossil fuels and/or biomass. The sector includes units that are subject to the Acid Rain Program and any other electricity generators that are otherwise required to report to the EPA CO2 mass emissions year-round according to 40 CFR part 75. This sector also includes combustion units serving electricity generators that are located at facilities with primary NAICS codes of 221330 (Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply 1) or 2211xx (Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution), which includes some part 75 reporters that report heat input to the EPA on a year-round basis. The emissions from this sector are solely from stationary fuel combustion sources.

1 Establishments primarily engaged in providing steam, heated air, or cooled air. The steam distribution may be through mains.

Trend of Annual Reported GHG Emissions in the Power Plant Sector (as of 8/13/16)

Location and emissions range for each reporting facility in the power plant sector (as of 8/13/16)

This map shows the locations of direct-emitting facilities. The size of a circle corresponds to the quantity of emissions reported by that facility.

Power Plants Sector — Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reported to the GHGRP

				(all emissions values presented in million metric tons CO2e unless otherwise noted)

			2011
			2012
			2013
			2014
			2015

Number of facilities:
			1,593
			1,609
			1,577
			1,547
			1,480

Total emissions (CO2e):
			2,221.3
			2,088.4
			2,103.6
			2,099.6
			1,969.3

Emissions by greenhouse gas (CO2e)

Carbon dioxide (CO2):

Methane (CH4):

Nitrous oxide (N2O):

				2,207.9

				4.2

				9.2

				2,076.5

				3.7

				8.2

				2,091.4

				3.7

				8.4

				2,087.2

				4.0

				8.4

				1,958.3

				3.6

				7.4

Totals may not equal sum of individual GHGs due to independent rounding.

	CO2 emissions from the combustion of biomass are NOT included in emissions totals provided above.

Other EPA Resources

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report

GHG Data

2015 Highlights

Power Plants

Petroleum & Natural Gas Systems

Refineries

Chemicals

Waste

Metals

Minerals

Pulp & Paper

Other Sectors

Misc. Combustion

Underground Coal Mines

Electronics Mfg.

Electrical Equip.

Suppliers Highlights

Natural Gas & Natural Gas Liquids

Petroleum Products

Industrial GHGs & Products Containing GHGs

GHGRP Data Sets
GHGRP Data FAQ
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GHGRP Methodology and Verification

The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program prescribes methodologies that must be used to determine GHG emissions from each source category. Reporters generally have the flexibility to choose among several methods to compute GHG emissions. The decision of which method to use may be influenced by the existing environmental monitoring systems in place and other factors. Reporters can change emission calculation methods from year to year and within the same year, as long as they meet the requirements for use of the method selected.

All reports submitted to EPA are evaluated by electronic validation and verification checks. If potential errors are identified, EPA will notify the reporter, who can resolve the issue either by providing an acceptable response describing why the flagged issue is not an error or by correcting the flagged issue and resubmitting their annual GHG report.

      GHGRP Methodology Factsheet (PDF)(2 pp, 102 K)

      GHGRP Verification Factsheet (PDF)(2 pp, 288 K)

      GHGRP BAMM Factsheet (PDF)(2 pp, 117 K)

      Subpart C Methodologies Factsheet (PDF)(2 pp, 126 K)

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GHGRP Reported Data

All greenhouse gas data presented here reflect the information reported to EPA as of 08/13/2016. The reported emissions exclude biogenic CO2. GHG data displayed here in units of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) reflect the global warming potential (GWP) values from Table A-1 Exit, which is generally based on the IPCCâ€™s Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) Exit, with the addition of GWPs from the IPCCâ€™s Fifth Assessment Report for fluorinated GHGs that did not have GWPs in the AR4.

For reporting year (RY) 2015, over 8,000 facilities and suppliers reported to the greenhouse gas reporting program. Among these reporters,

8,003 facilities in nine industry sectors reported direct emissions.

Reported direct emissions totaled 3.05 billion metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), about half of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

961 suppliers reported.

101 facilities reported injecting CO2 underground.

Summary GHGRP data has been broken into several sections. Click the links below to expand each section.

Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Background

As directed by Congress, EPAâ€™s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) collects annual greenhouse gas information from the top emitting sectors of the U.S. economy (Table 1). The GHGRP is the only dataset containing facility-level greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data from large industrial sources across the United States. With five years of reporting for most sectors, GHGRP data are providing important new information on industrial emissionsâ€”showing variation in emissions across facilities within an industry, variation in industrial emissions across geographic areas, and changes in emissions over time at the sector and facility level. EPA is using this facility-level data to improve estimates of national greenhouse gas emissions, including using it to improve the U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory. The data are also being used to inform regulatory actions and voluntary emission reduction efforts.

This document summarizes national industrial sector emissions and trends.

Table 1: GHGRP Sector Classifications

Industry Sector
						Number of Reporters
						Emissions (Million Metric Tons CO2e)

Power Plants
						1,480
						1,969.3

Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems
						2,413
						231.4

Onshore Petroleum & Nat. Gas Prod.
						534
						97.3

Offshore Petroleum & Nat. Gas Prod.
						133
						7.3

Natural Gas Processing
						467
						58.5

Natural Gas Transmission/Compression
						521
						22.9

Underground Natural Gas Storage
						53
						1.51

Natural Gas Local Distribution Companies
						177
						14.3

Liquefied Natural Gas Import/Export
						7
						0.6

LNG Storage
						7
						**

Other Petroleum & Natural Gas Systems
						541
						29.1

Refineries
						144
						175.6

Chemicals
						462
						173.9

Non-Fluorinated Chemicals

Adipic Acid Production
						3
						6.1

Ammonia Manufacturing
						23
						22.8

Hydrogen Production
						110
						44.1

Nitric Acid Production
						34
						11.8

Petrochemical Production
						68
						54.9

Phosphoric Acid Production
						12
						1.6

Silicon Carbide Production
						1
						0.1

Titanium Dioxide Production
						7
						2.3

Other Chemicals
						213
						20.3

Fluorinated Chemicals

Fluorinated GHG Production
						14
						5.6

HCFC-22 Prod./HFC-23 Dest.
						4
						4.3

Waste
						1,540
						111.7

Industrial Waste Landfills
						174
						8.6

MSW Landfills
						1,161
						91.0

Solid Waste Combustion
						64
						10.1

Industrial Wastewater Treatment
						148
						2.1

Metals
						297
						90.2

Aluminum Production
						9
						5.3

Ferroalloy Production
						10
						2.1

Iron and Steel Production
						127
						70.3

Lead Production
						12
						1.0

Magnesium Production
						11
						1.2

Zinc Production
						5
						0.6

Other Metals
						123
						9.7

Minerals
						379
						115.5

Cement Production
						95
						68.8

Glass Production
						106
						8.0

Lime Manufacturing
						74
						28.8

Soda Ash Manufacturing
						4
						5.2

Other Minerals
						102
						4.6

Pulp and Paper
						232
						38.4

Chemical Pulp and Paper Production
						108
						26.9

Other Paper Producers
						124
						11.6

Other
						1,433
						139.5

Food Processing
						341
						30.9

Ethanol Production
						176
						18.5

Other Manufacturing
						287
						15.5

Universities
						115
						8.9

Military
						41
						2.4

Other Combustion
						180
						11.3

Underground Coal Mines
						123
						42.9

Electronics Manufacturing
						58
						6.3

Electrical Equipment Manufacturers
						7
						0.2

Use of Electrical Equipment
						105
						2.7

** Total reported emissions are less than 0.05 million metric tons CO2e.

1Â The Southern California Gas Company - Aliso Canyon facilityâ€™s actual 2015 emissions were higher than those reported to the GHGRP. The GHGRP provides well-vetted average emission factors to calculate emissions. The facility followed these GHGRP calculation methods for 2015 reporting. Actual emissions differ from those reported due to an exceptional leak event. SeeÂ California Air Resource Boardâ€™s Aliso Canyon Natural Gas LeakÂ Exitwebpage for more information. Â Â

The GHGRP does not represent total U.S. GHG emissions, but provides facility level data for large sources of direct emissions, thus representing the majority of U.S. GHG emissions. The GHGRP data collected from direct emitters representing about half of all U.S. emissions. When including greenhouse gas information reported to the GHGRP by suppliers, emissions coverage reaches approximately 85â€“90% (See Figure 1). The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2014 contains information on all GHG emissions sources and sinks in the United States.

Learn more about the differences between the Inventory and the GHGRP.

Figure 1: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

Suppliers report the quantity of GHGs that would be emitted if the fuels and industrial GHGs that they place into the economy each year are used/released. Reporting by suppliers helps account for the greenhouse gas emissions by the numerous low-emitting sources that are not required to report emissions under the GHGRP (e.g., mobile sources, residential sources). Learn more about suppliers and their 2015 reported data.

Table 2: Overview of GHG Data Reported (2015)

Direct emitters

Number of facilities reporting
						8,003

Reported direct emissions (billion metric tons CO2e)
						3.05

Suppliers of fuel and industrial gases

Number of suppliers
						961

Underground injection of carbon dioxide

Number of carbon dioxide injection facilities
						101

Who reports?

For 2015, 8,003 direct emitters submitted a GHG report. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems sector had the largest number of reporting facilities, followed by the Waste Sector and the Power Plants Sector. Among suppliers, Suppliers of Natural Gas and Natural Gas Liquids had the largest number of reporting facilities.

Table 3: Number of Direct Emitters that Reported (2015)

Industry Sector
						Number of Reporters1

Power Plants
						1,480

Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems
						2,413

Refineries
						144

Chemicals
						462

Â Â Fluorinated Chemicals
						15

Â Â Non-fluorinated Chemicals
						447

Waste
						1,540

Metals
						297

Minerals
						379

Pulp and Paper
						232

Other
						1,433

Â Â Underground Coal Mines
						123

Â Â Electrical Equipment Production & Use
						112

Â Â Electronics Manufacturing
						58

Â Â Other Combustion
						1,140

1 Totals sum to more than 8,003 because facilities whose activities fall within more than one sector are counted multiple times.

Reported Emissions

In 2015, 3.05 billion metric tons CO2e were reported by direct emitters. The largest emitting sector was the Power Plant Sector with 2.0 billion metric tons CO2e, followed by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems Sector with 231 million metric tons (MMT) CO2e and the Refineries Sector with 176Â MMT CO2e. This information, as well as average emissions per reporter, is shown in the following chart.

Figure 2: Direct GHG Emissions Reported by Sector (2015)

View this information in FLIGHT.

Emissions Trends

National level trends in greenhouse gas emissions are available through the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2014. The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program is different from the U.S. GHG Inventory in that it collects information from the largest stationary sources in the U.S. and provides nearly complete emissions coverage for many of the largest emitting industries. Trends in emissions reported for individual industries are discussed in the industry-specific reports.

Total U.S. emissions increased by 1.0% from 2013 to 2014, based on the U.S. GHG Inventory. Between 2013 and 2014, emissions reported to the GHGRP increased by 0.5% (Table 4).

The U.S. GHG Inventory is not yet available for 2015. For sources reporting to the GHGRP, emissions increased by 0.5% from 2013 to 2014. Over the past five reporting years (2011-2015), GHGRP reported emissions have declined by 8.2%. This decline is caused primarily by a 11.3% decline in reported emissions by power plants since 2011.

Table 4: Emissions Trends for U.S. GHG Inventory and GHGRP (2011-2015)

Â
						2011
						2012
						2013
						2014
						2015

U.S. GHG Inventory

Total emissions (million metric tons CO2e)
						6,865.4
						6,643.0
						6,800.0
						6,870.5
						Not available

Percent change in emissions from previous year
						-1.7%
						-3.2%
						2.4%
						1.0%
						Not available

GHGRP

Number of direct-emitting facilities
						7,641
						7,885
						7,962
						8,183
						8,003

Direct emissions (million metric tons CO2e)
						3,317.8
						3,168.0
						3,186.0
						3,202.1
						3,045.6

Percent change in emissions from previous year
						â€”
						-4.5%
						0.6%
						0.5%
						-4.9%

Table 5: Emission Trends by Sector (2011-2015)

Sector
						2011 Emissions (MMT CO2e)
						2012 Emissions (MMT CO2e)
						2013 Emissions (MMT CO2e)
						2014 Emissions (MMT CO2e)
						2015 Emissions (MMT CO2e)

Power Plants
						2,221.3
						2,088.4
						2,103.6
						2,099.6
						1,969.3

Oil & Gas
						222.3
						226.0
						227.8
						235.1
						231.4

Refineries
						178.2
						172.5
						174.0
						175.2
						175.6

Chemicals
						180.3
						172.3
						173.8
						176.3
						173.9

Â Â  Fluorinated Chemicals
						17.4
						14.1
						13.1
						11.4
						9.9

Â Â  Non-fluorinated Chemicals
						162.9
						158.3
						160.7
						165.0
						164.1

Waste
						115.3
						116.5
						112.2
						112.6
						111.7

Metals
						112.0
						106.8
						106.8
						104.4
						90.2

Minerals
						103.2
						107.5
						111.5
						116.6
						115.5

Pulp & Paper
						44.2
						42.7
						39.4
						39.3
						38.4

Other
						141.0
						135.4
						136.9
						143.0
						139.5

Â Â  Underground Coal Mines
						40.4
						38.4
						40.5
						43.2
						42.9

Â Â  Electrical Equipment Production & Use
						4.3
						3.4
						3.5
						3.4
						2.9

Â Â  Electronics Manufacturing
						7.0
						6.4
						5.1
						6.2
						6.3

Â Â  Other Combustion
						89.4
						87.2
						87.8
						90.2
						87.5

Figure 3: Trends in Direct GHG Emissions (2011-2015) 1,2

View this information in FLIGHT.

1 Non-fluorinated Chemicals and Fluorinated Chemicals are components of â€œChemicalsâ€? in FLIGHT.
2 Other Combustion, Underground Coal Mines, Electronics Manufacturing and Electrical Equipment Production & Use comprise â€œOtherâ€? in FLIGHT.

Emissions by GHG

Carbon dioxide is the GHG emitted in the largest quantities. The 2.8 billion metric tons of CO2 reported for 2015Â represent 91.3% of the GHGs reported in 2015a Methane emissions represent 7.2% of reported 2015Â GHG emissions, N2O represents 0.9%, and fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6) represent 0.7% (Figure 4).

a The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Sinks for 2015 is not yet available. In 2014, CO2 represented 81% of total U.S. GHG emissions.

Figure 4: Direct Emissions by GHG (2015)

The table below lists the primary sectors emitting each GHG.

Table 6: Largest Sources of GHG Emissions

Greenhouse Gas
						Source Categories Contributing Most to Emissions1
						Sectors Contributing Most to Emissions

CO2
						Electricity Generation (D), Stationary Combustion (C)
						Power Plants

CH4
						Municipal Landfills (HH), Petroleum & Natural Gas Systems (W)
						Waste, Petroleum & Natural Gas Systems

N2O
						Nitric Acid Production (V), Electricity Generation (D), Adipic Acid Production (E)
						Chemicals, Power Plants

SF6
						SF6 from Electrical Equipment (DD), Electronics Manufacturing (I), Magnesium Production (T)
						Other, Metals

NF3
						Electronics Manufacturers (I), Fluorinated Gas Production (L)
						Other

HFCs
						HCFCâ€“22 Production and HFCâ€“23 Destruction (O), Fluorinated Gas Production (L)
						Chemicals

PFCs
						Electronics Manufacturers (I), Aluminum Production (F)
						Metals, Other

1 These source categories account for 75% or more of the reported emissions of the corresponding GHG. The subpart under which the emissions were reported is shown in parentheses.

Geographic Distribution of Emissions

Figure 5: Location and Total Reported Emissions from GHGRP Facilities (2015)

This map shows the locations of direct-emitting facilities. The size of a circle corresponds to the quantity of emissions reported by that facility. There are also facilities located in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.

Readers can identify facilities in their state, territory, county, or city by visiting FLIGHT.

Because it generally applies to facilities that emit greater than 25,000 metric tons CO2e per year, the GHGRP provides total reported emissions from large stationary sources in each state. Figure 6 shows the reported emissions in each state broken out by industrial sector.

Figure 6: Direct GHG Emissions by State and Sector (2015)

View this information in FLIGHT.

Emissions Range

The GHGRP provides a comprehensive dataset that can be used to determine the number of facilities at various emissions levels in many industry sectors. The GHGRP can also be used to determine the total GHG emissions from individual facilities, including emissions from fossil fuel combustion and other processes. This information is valuable for planning future policies. GHGRP data provide policy makers with a better understanding of the number of facilities and total emissions that would be covered by potential GHG reduction policies for various industries.

Figure 7: Percentage of All Reporting Facilities at Various Emission Ranges (2015)

Eighty percent of reporting facilities had emissions less than 250,000 metric tons CO2e. In 2015, the 651 largest-emitting facilitiesâ€”those emitting more than one million metric tons CO2eâ€”accounted for almost 2.2 billion metric tons CO2e. These emissions represent 71.7% of the total 3.05 billion metric tons CO2e reported. These high-emitting facilities are mainly power plants, but also include petroleum refineries and facilities in the Chemicals and Metals sectors.

You can use FLIGHT to list and sort facilities based on total reported emissions and find the largest emitting facilities in the country or a specific state or county. This tool also allows you to sort facilities by specific industry types.

Figure 8: Facility Emission Ranges (2015)

GHGRP Calculation Methods Used

The GHGRP prescribes methodologies that must be used to determine GHG emissions from each source category. Reporters generally have the flexibility to choose among several methods to compute GHG emissions. The decision of which method to use may be influenced by the existing environmental monitoring systems in place and other factors. Reporters can change emission calculation methods from year to year and within the same year, as long as they meet the requirements for use of the method selected.

Additional information on the methodologies that reporters use to determine GHG emissions

Report Verification

All reports submitted to EPA are evaluated by electronic validation and verification checks. If potential errors are identified, EPA will notify the reporter, who can resolve the issue either by providing an acceptable response describing why the flagged issue is not an error or by correcting the flagged issue and resubmitting their annual GHG report.

Additional information describing EPAâ€™s verification process in more details

For More Information

For more detailed information from each industrial sector, view the GHGRP Data Highlights and select an industry from the text box on the right hand side.

Use FLIGHT to view maps of facility locations, obtain summary data for individual facilities, create customized searchers, and display search results graphically.

Downloadable spreadsheets containing summary data reported to the GHGRP from each reporter are available on the Data Downloads page.

All other publicly available data submitted to the GHGRP are available for download through Envirofacts.

The U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory contains information on all sources of GHG emissions and sinks in the United States from 1990 to 2014.

All GHG emissions data reflect the global warming potential (GWP) values from the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, Pachauri, R.K. and Reisinger, A. (eds)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 2007). The AR4 values also can be found in the current version of Table A-1 in subpart A of 40 CFR part 98.

GHG Data

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Industrial GHGs & Products Containing GHGs

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GHGRP Waste

 The waste sector consists of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, industrial waste landfills, industrial wastewater treatment systems, and facilities that operate combustors or incinerators for the disposal of nonhazardous solid waste. Emissions from fossil fuel combustion at facilities with industrial waste landfills, and industrial wastewater treatment systems are included in other sectors.

MSW landfills. This category consists of landfills that accepted MSW on or after January 1, 1980 and generate methane in amounts equivalent to 25,000 metric tons of CO2e or more per year. This category includes emissions from the landfill, landfill gas collection systems, and destruction devices for landfill gases (including boilers, engines, and flares).

Industrial Waste Landfills. This category consists of industrial waste landfills that accepted industrial waste on or after January 1, 1980 and that have a total landfill design capacity of 300,000 metric tons or more. The category excludes landfills for hazardous waste and those that receive only construction and demolition or inert wastes. This category includes emissions from the landfill, landfill gas collection systems, and destruction devices for landfill gases (including flares).

Industrial Wastewater Treatment. This category consists of anaerobic processes used to treat nonhazardous industrial wastewater and industrial wastewater treatment sludge at facilities that perform pulp and paper manufacturing, food processing, ethanol production, or petroleum refining.

Solid Waste Combustion. This category consists of combustors and incinerators for the disposal of nonhazardous solid waste.

2015 Total Reported Direct Emissions from Waste, by Subsector (as of 8/13/16).

Sum of percentages may not equal 100% due to independent rounding.

Trend of Annual Reported GHG Emissions by Subsector (as of 8/13/16).

Location and emissions range for each reporting facility in the waste sector (as of 8/13/16).

This map shows the locations of direct-emitting facilities. The size of a circle corresponds to the quantity of emissions reported by that facility.

Waste Sector — Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reported to the GHGRP

				(all emissions values presented in million metric tons CO2e)

			2011
			2012
			2013
			2014
			2015

Number of facilities:
			1,643
			1,648
			1,631
			1,625
			1,540

Total emissions (CO2e):
			115.3
			116.5
			112.2
			112.6
			111.7

Emissions by greenhouse

				   gas (CO2e)

Carbon dioxide (CO2):

Methane (CH4):

Nitrous oxide (N2O):

				10.1

				104.8

				0.4

				10.3

				105.8

				0.4

				10.5

				101.3

				0.4

				10.6

				101.7

				0.4

				10.8

				100.5

				0.4

Totals may not equal sum of individual GHGs due to independent rounding.

CO2 emissions from the combustion of biomass are NOT included in emissions totals provided above.

Number of reporters and 2015 emissions (CO2e) per waste industry subsector

Industry Sector
			2015 Number of Reporters
			2015 Emissions (million metric tons CO2e per year)

MSW Landfills
			1,161
			91.0

Industrial Wastewater Treatment
			148
			2.1

Industrial Waste Landfills
			174
			8.6

Solid Waste Combustion
			64
			10.1

Other EPA Resources

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report

GHG Data

2015 Highlights

Power Plants

Petroleum & Natural Gas Systems

Refineries

Chemicals

Waste

Metals

Minerals

Pulp & Paper

Other Sectors

Misc. Combustion

Underground Coal Mines

Electronics Mfg.

Electrical Equip.

Suppliers Highlights

Natural Gas & Natural Gas Liquids

Petroleum Products

Industrial GHGs & Products Containing GHGs

GHGRP Data Sets
GHGRP Data FAQ
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GHGRP Other Sectors

 This sector consists of underground coal mines, electronics manufacturing, electrical equipment manufacturing and electrical transmission and distribution systems. The sector also includes stationary fuel combustion from miscellaneous commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities not covered under other sectors (e.g., ethanol production, food processing, and other manufacturing processes). Emissions from industrial waste landfills and industrial wastewater treatment at these facilities are included in the waste sector.

2015 Total Reported Direct Emissions from Other, by Subsector (as of 8/13/16).

Sum of percentages may not equal 100% due to independent rounding.

Trend of Annual Reported GHG Emissions by Subsector (as of 8/13/16).

Location and emissions range for each reporting facility in the Other Sector (as of 8/13/16).

This map shows the locations of direct-emitting facilities. The size of a circle corresponds to the quantity of emissions reported by that facility.

Other Sector — Greenhouse Gas Emissions

				Reported to the GHGRP

				(all emissions values presented in million metric tons CO2e)

			2011
			2012
			2013
			2014
			2015

Number of facilities:
			1,381
			1,413
			1,428
			1,455
			1,433

Total emissions (CO2e):
			141.0
			135.4
			137.0
			143.0
			139.5

Emissions by greenhouse

				   gas (CO2e)

Carbon dioxide (CO2):

Methane (CH4):

Nitrous oxide (N2O):

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs):

Hydrofluoroethers (HFEs):

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs):

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6):

Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3):

Other fully fluorinated GHGs:

Very short-lived compounds:

				90.8

				40.4

				0.5

				0.2

				**

				3.2

				4.6

				0.6

				0.7

				**

				88.4

				38.3

				0.6

				0.2

				**

				2.8

				3.7

				0.6

				0.7

				**

				88.3

				40.4

				0.4

				0.2

				**

				2.6

				3.8

				0.5

				0.6

				**

				91.1

				42.9

				0.4

				0.3

				**

				3.0

				4.1

				0.5

				0.8

				**

				88.2

				42.8

				0.4

				0.3

				**

				3.0

				3.6

				0.5

				0.7

				**

Totals may not equal sum of individual GHGs due to independent rounding.

	** Total reported emissions are less than 0.05 million metric tons CO2e.

CO2e emissions from the combustion of biomass are NOT included in emissions totals provided above.

Select the industry subsectors in the table below for more information on that subsector.

Industry Subsector
			2015

				Number of Reporters
			2015 Emissions

				(million metric tons)

Miscellaneous combustion

Food Processing

Ethanol Production

Other Manufacturing

Universities

Military

Other Combustion

			341

				176

				287

				115

				41

				180
			30.9

				18.5

				15.5

				8.9

				2.4

				11.3

Underground Coal Mines
			123
			42.9

Electronics Manufacturing
			58
			6.3

Production and Use of Electrical Equipment

Electrical Equipment Manufacturers

Use of Electrical Equipment

				7

				105

				0.2

				2.7

GHG Data

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Power Plants

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Other Sectors

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GHGRP and the Oil and Gas Industry

The GHGRP covers emissions from different aspects of the oil and gas industry through several of its subparts. Click on a number in the diagram below to find out how the GHGRP addresses emissions from different phases of oil and gas extraction, production, transport, and use.

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Legend #
			Description

1

Each owner or operator of onshore petroleum and natural gas production wells and related equipment reports under subpart W the combined emissions for all wells that they own or operate within each hydrocarbon basin. Emissions from stationary and portable fuel combustion equipment are reported under "Subpart W" of the GHGRP.

Learn More about Emissions from this source.

2

Emissions from offshore petroleum and natural gas production are reported under Subpart W of the GHGRP for each platform. These facilities also report emissions from fossil fuel combustion under Subpart C.

Learn More about Emissions from this source.

3
			Each refinery reports all of the crude oil, natural gas liquids, and bulk petroleum products that enter the refinery for processing or other use.

4

Each refinery reports direct emissions from refinery specific processes under Subpart Y of the GHGRP and emissions from fossil fuel combustion under Subpart C. Some refineries also report emissions from other sources such as hydrogen production (Subpart P), petrochemical production (Subpart X) and industrial waste landfills (Subpart TT).

Learn More about Emissions from this source.

5
			Petroleum product suppliers.  Refineries and importers/exporters of petroleum products report as a supplier of petroleum products under Subpart MM of the GHGRP. These suppliers do not report direct emissions under Subpart MM, but instead report the quantity of CO2 that would be emitted if the fuels that they produce, import, or export each year were combusted, released to the atmosphere, or oxidized. Learn More about Reported CO2 from this source

6

Onshore petroleum and natural gas gathering and boosting means gathering pipelines and other equipment used to collect petroleum and/or natural gas from onshore production wells and to compress and transport gas to a natural gas processing facility, transmission pipeline, or a distribution pipeline.  In 2016, owners and operators will begin to collect information on this source category and will report to EPA, under Subpart W of the GHGRP, the combined emissions for all gathering and boosting equipment that they own or operate within each hydrocarbon basin. Emissions from stationary and portable fuel combustion equipment are reported under "Subpart W" of the GHGRP.

Learn More.

7

Natural gas processing plants separate natural gas liquids from produced natural gas. Some natural gas processing plants also fractionate natural gas liquids into one or more components. These facilities report emissions from gas processing under Subpart W of the GHGRP and emissions from fuel combustion under Subpart C.

Learn More about Emissions from this source.

8

A natural gas liquids fractionator separates bulk natural gas liquids into constituent products (i.e., ethane, propane, butane, isobutene, or pentanes plus) or mixtures of products. Natural gas liquids fractionators must report under Subpart NN of the GHGRP the quantity of CO2 that would be emitted if the natural gas liquids that they supply each year were combusted or oxidized. Some natural gas liquids fractionators are co-located with natural gas processing plants.

Learn More about Reported CO2 from this source.

9

Natural gas transmission compression means any stationary compressors that move natural gas from production fields, natural gas processing plants, or other transmission compressors through transmission pipelines to natural gas distribution pipelines, LNG storage facilities, or underground storage sites. These facilities report process emissions under Subpart W of the GHGRP and emissions from fuel combustion under Subpart C.

Learn More about Emissions from this source.

10

Underground natural gas storage means subsurface storage of natural gas in formations such as depleted gas or oil reservoirs and salt dome caverns. Facilities report emissions from natural gas handling under Subpart W of the GHGRP and emissions from fuel combustion under Subpart C.

Learn More about Emissions from this source.

11

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage means onshore LNG storage vessels located above ground and associated equipment. These facilities report emissions under Subpart W of the GHGRP and emissions from fuel combustion under Subpart C.

Learn More about Emissions from this source.

12

LNG import and export equipment. LNG import equipment means all onshore or offshore equipment that receives imported LNG via ocean transport, stores LNG and delivers the gas to a natural gas transmission or distribution system. LNG export equipment means all onshore or offshore equipment that receives, liquefies and stores natural gas and transfers the LNG into ocean transport vessels. Process emissions from this source are reported under Subpart W of the GHGRP and emissions from fuel combustion are reported under Subpart C.

Learn More about Emissions from this source.

13

Onshore natural gas transmission pipelines deliver gas from processing plants to local natural gas distribution systems, often passing through one or more compressor stations.  In 2016, owners are operators will begin to collect information on this source category and will report to EPA, under subpart W of the GHGRP, the emissions from transmission pipeline blowdowns.

Learn More.

14
			Large natural gas and petroleum users report emissions from the use of natural gas or petroleum products as a fuel or process feedstock under other applicable Subparts of the GHGRP (e.g., electricity generation [subpart D], hydrogen production [subpart P], petrochemical production [subpart X], stationary fuel combustion sources [subpart C], and other source categories).

15

Natural gas distribution. Local natural gas distribution companies report emissions caused by leaks from distribution pipelines, regulating equipment, and transfer stations; and emissions from stationary fuel combustion under Subpart W of the GHGRP.

Learn More about Emissions from this source.

Local distribution companies also report under subpart NN the quantity of CO2 that would be emitted if the natural gas supplied to their customers were completely combusted, released, or oxidized.  LDCs report total gas quantities supplied to four classes of customers - electricity generation, industrial, commercial, and residential.

Learn More about reported CO2 associated with natural gas supplied.

Subpart
			Coverage

Subpart W
			Subpart W applies if emissions are 25,000 metric tons CO2e or more per year from a facility, as “facility" is defined in either subpart A or subpart W, as applicable.

Subpart Y
			Subpart Y applies to all petroleum refineries.

Subpart MM
			Subpart MM applies to all petroleum refineries and to importers and exporters of petroleum products and natural gas liquids whose supplied products would result in 25,000 metric tons CO2e or more per year if the products were fully combusted.

Subpart NN
			Subpart NN applies to all fractionators of natural gas liquids and to natural gas distribution companies that deliver 460,000 Mscf or more of natural gas per year.

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Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP)

GHGRP Metals

 The metals sector consists of metal production facilities that smelt, refine, and/or cast ferrous and nonferrous metals, including primary aluminum, ferroalloy, iron and steel, lead, magnesium, and zinc, from ore, pig, or scrap using electrometallurgical and other methods. The sector also includes foundries and any other metal production facility operating under NAICS codes beginning with 331 (Primary Metal Manufacturing). Primary aluminum, ferroalloy, iron and steel, lead, magnesium, and zinc production facilities report GHG emissions from metal smelting, refining, and/or casting activities, as well as from stationary fuel combustion sources. All other metal production facilities report only the GHG emissions from stationary fuel combustion sources.

2015 Total Reported Direct Emissions from Metals, by Subsector (as of 8/13/16).

Sum of percentages may not equal 100% due to independent rounding.

Trend of Annual Reported GHG Emissions by Subsector (as of 8/13/16).

Location and emissions range for each reporting facility in the metals sector in 2015 (as of 8/13/16).

This map shows the locations of direct-emitting facilities. The size of a circle corresponds to the quantity of emissions reported by that facility.

Metals Sector — Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reported to the GHGRP

				(all emissions values presented in million metric tons CO2e)

			2011
			2012
			2013
			2014
			2015

Number of facilities:
			299
			300
			300
			302
			297

Total emissions (CO2e):
			112.0
			106.8
			106.8
			104.4
			90.2

Emissions by greenhouse

				   gas (CO2e)

Carbon dioxide (CO2):

Methane (CH4):

Nitrous oxide (N2O):

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs):

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs):

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6):

				107.0

				**

				**

				**

				3.5

				1.5

				102.5

				**

				**

				**

				2.9

				1.3

				102.7

				**

				**

				0.1

				3.0

				1.0

				101.0

				**

				**

				0.1

				2.5

				0.7

				87.4

				**

				**

				0.1

				2.0

				0.7

Totals may not equal sum of individual GHGs due to independent rounding.

	** Total reported emissions are less than 0.05 million metric tons CO2e.

CO2 emissions from the combustion of biomass are NOT included in emissions totals provided above.

Number of reporters and 2015 emissions (CO2e) per metal industry subsector

Industry Sector
			2015 Number of Reporters
			2015 Emissions (million metric tons CO2e per year)

Aluminum Production
			9
			5.3

Ferroalloy Production
			10
			2.1

Iron and Steel Production
			127
			70.3

Lead Production
			12
			1.0

Magnesium Production
			11
			1.2

Zinc Production
			5
			0.6

Other Metals
			123
			9.7

Other EPA Resources

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report

GHG Data

2015 Highlights

Power Plants

Petroleum & Natural Gas Systems

Refineries

Chemicals

Waste

Metals

Minerals

Pulp & Paper

Other Sectors

Misc. Combustion

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Petroleum Products

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Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP)

GHGRP Suppliers of Natural Gas and Natural Gas Liquids

 This sector consists of entities that supply natural gas and natural gas liquids. Natural gas supply is reported by Local Distribution Companies (LDCs) and natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionators.

NGL Fractionators are installations that receive natural gas or natural gas liquids from producers and fractionate these raw inputs into individual products (ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane, or pentanes plus) and supply those products into the economy.

Local Distribution Companies receive natural gas from a transmission pipeline company and physically deliver the gas to end users.

These Suppliers do not report direct emissions, but instead report the quantity of CO2 that would be emitted if the fuels they supply each year were combusted. Emissions associated with these fuels do not occur at the supplier's facility but instead occur throughout the country, wherever they are used. The full GHG quantity reported by suppliers might not always result in GHG emissions, and the emissions might not take place during that particular reporting year. An example is ethane supplied by NGL fractionators, which is often used to produce plastics.

The GHG quantities reported by suppliers can be accessed through the suppliers section of FLIGHT. Some natural gas and natural gas liquids suppliers also report direct emissions from petroleum and natural gas operations. Click here to learn more.

Graphic of the natural gas and NGL supply chain

Quantities marked with green arrows are reported to EPA by NGL Fractionators or Local Distribution Companies under Subpart NN.

Trend of annual reported CO2 quantity associated with natural gas and NGL supply

** Excludes CO2 reported by NGL Fractionators whose reported quantities are classified as confidential business information (CBI). Among suppliers of natural gas liquids, the default emission factors used in 2013 and later years for propane, butane and isobutane increased by a few percent over those used in 2012 and prior years due to technical corrections to the reporting requirements. The default emission factor for ethane meanwhile decreased by over 30%. As a result of these changes, NGL fractionators reported a lower CO2 value in 2013 and subsequent years than would have been reported if the factors had not been updated. The default emission factor for natural gas supplied for 2013 also decreased by about 1%. As a result of this change, LDCs reported a lower CO2 value in 2013 and subsequent years than would have been reported if the factor had not been updated.

Natural Gas and Natural Gas Liquids Suppliers Sector – Carbon Dioxide Quantity Reported to the GHGRP

				(million metric tons CO2)

			2011
			2012
			2013
			2014
			2015

Local Distribution Companies

Number of reporters:
			379
			385
			383
			380
			377

CO2 Quantity
			715.2
			708.9
			770.2
			789.7
			764.4

Natural Gas Liquids Fractionators

Number of reporters:
			116
			120
			125
			128
			124

CO2 Quantity a
			211.4
			234.2
			222.7
			261.7
			289.5

a Excludes CO2 reported by NGL Fractionators whose reported quantities are classified as confidential business information (CBI).

Natural Gas Deliveries Reported by LDCs (Mscf)

End-User
			2011
			2012
			2013
			2014
			2015

Total Reported Deliveries
			12,821,502,091
			12,803,741,763
			13,947,832,842
			14,383,113,977
			13,862,200,370

Residential Customers
			4,638,529,919
			4,085,574,944
			4,848,194,760
			5,005,735,887
			4,540,946,672

Commercial Customers
			3,039,953,088
			2,806,910,521
			3,195,406,736
			3,371,629,183
			3,099,028,202

Industrial Customers
			3,284,163,103
			3,508,132,232
			3,662,750,062
			3,767,913,926
			3,727,521,915

Electricity Generating Facilities
			1,858,855,981
			2,403,124,066
			2,241,481,284
			2,237,834,980
			2,494,703,581

Mscf means thousand standard cubic feet of gas.

GHG Data

2015 Highlights

Power Plants

Petroleum & Natural Gas Systems

Refineries

Chemicals

Waste

Metals

Minerals

Pulp & Paper

Other Sectors

Misc. Combustion

Underground Coal Mines

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Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP)

GHGRP Underground Coal Mines

 The Underground Coal Mines sector consists of all underground coal mines that liberate 36,500,000 actual cubic feet of methane (equivalent to approximately 17,579 metric tons CO2e) or more per year. Facilities in this sector include both underground coal mines under development and those categorized by the Mine Safety and Health Administration as active mines. Surface mines and abandoned mines are excluded from this category. Facility owners or operators must report the total annual methane liberated from ventilation and degasification systems as well as GHG emissions from any other source categories at the facility, such as stationary combustion devices.

Trend of Annual Reported Direct Emissions from the Underground Coal Mines Sector (as of 8/13/16).

Location and emissions range for each reporting facility in the underground coal mines sector (as of 8/13/16).

This map shows the locations of direct-emitting facilities. The size of a circle corresponds to the quantity of emissions reported by that facility.

Underground Coal Mines — Greenhouse Gas Emissions

				Reported to the GHGRP

				(all emissions values presented in million metric tons CO2e)

			2011
			2012
			2013
			2014
			2015

Number of facilities:
			117
			118
			129
			128
			123

Total emissions (CO2e):
			40.4
			38.4
			40.5
			43.2
			42.9

Emissions by greenhouse

				    gas (CO2e)

Carbon dioxide (CO2):

Methane (CH4):

Nitrous oxide (N2O):

				0.2

				40.2

				**

				0.2

				38.2

				**

				0.2

				40.3

				**

				0.5

				42.7

				**

				0.3

				42.6

				**

** Total reported emissions are less than 0.05 million metric tons CO2e.

	CO2 emissions from the combustion of biomass are NOT included in the emissions totals provided above.

GHG Data

2015 Highlights

Power Plants

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Other Sectors

Misc. Combustion

Underground Coal Mines

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Petroleum Products

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Climate Change Impacts

Climate Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply

On This Page:

Overview

Impacts on Crops

Impacts on Livestock

Impacts on Fisheries

International Impacts

Overview

Key Points

Moderate warming and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may help some plants to grow faster. However, more severe warming, floods, and drought may reduce yields.

Livestock may be at risk, both directly from heat stress and indirectly from reduced quality of their food supply.

Fisheries will be affected by changes in water temperature that make waters more hospitable to invasive species and shift the ranges or lifecycle timing of certain fish species.

Agriculture is an important sector of the U.S. economy. The crops, livestock, and seafood produced  in the United States contribute more than $300 billion to the economy each year.[1]  When food-service and other agriculture-related industries are included, the agricultural and food sectors contribute more than $750 billion to the gross domestic product.[2]

Agriculture and fisheries are highly dependent on the climate. Increases in temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) can increase some crop yields in some places. But to realize these benefits, nutrient levels, soil moisture, water availability, and other conditions must also be met. Changes in the frequency and severity of droughts and floods could pose challenges for farmers and ranchers and threaten food safety.[3]   Meanwhile, warmer water temperatures are likely to cause the habitat ranges of many fish and shellfish species to shift, which could disrupt ecosystems. Overall, climate change could make it more difficult to grow crops, raise animals, and catch fish in the same ways and same places as we have done in the past. The effects of climate change also need to be considered along with other evolving factors that affect agricultural production, such as changes in farming practices and technology.

Impacts on Crops

<img alt="Line graph that shows the yield in bushels per acre by year. The map calls out several events that caused significant declines in yield. Blight, wet spring and early frost, droughts, flood, and unusual climate events caused as much as 29 percent declines in yield. The data ranges from 1960 to 2010 and over that period of time the trend shows that the yield per acre has risen from approximately 60 to 150 bushels per acre." height="314" width="448" class="left media-element file-medium left" typeof="foaf:Image" src="/sites/production/files/styles/medium/public/2016-08/uscornyields-large.jpg" title="" />Despite technological improvements that increase corn yields, extreme weather events have caused significant yield reductions in some years. Source: USGCRP (2009)

Click the image to view a larger version.

Crops grown in the United States are critical for the food supply here and around the world. U.S. farms supply nearly 25% of all grains (such as wheat, corn, and rice) on the global market.[4] Changes in temperature, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather could have significant impacts on crop yields.

For any particular crop, the effect of increased temperature will depend on the crop's optimal temperature for growth and reproduction.[1] In some areas, warming may benefit the types of crops that are typically planted there, or allow farmers to shift to crops that are currently grown in warmer areas. Conversely, if the higher temperature exceeds a crop's optimum temperature, yields will decline.

Related Links

EPA

National Agriculture Center

Student's Guide to Climate Change: Agriculture

		Other:

National Climate Assessment: Agriculture

USDA: Agriculture and Climate Change

IPCC: Fifth Assessment Report - Food Security and Food Production Systems

Higher CO2 levels can affect crop yields. Some laboratory experiments suggest that elevated CO2 levels can increase plant growth.  However, other factors, such as changing temperatures, ozone, and water and nutrient constraints, may counteract these potential increases in yield. For example, if temperature exceeds a crop's optimal level, if sufficient water and nutrients are not available, yield increases may be reduced or reversed. Elevated CO2 has been associated with reduced protein and nitrogen content in alfalfa and soybean plants, resulting in a loss of quality.  Reduced grain and forage quality can reduce the ability of pasture and rangeland to support grazing livestock.[1]

More extreme temperature and precipitation can prevent crops from growing. Extreme events, especially floods and droughts, can harm crops and reduce yields. For example, in 2010 and 2012, high nighttime temperatures affected corn yields across the U.S. Corn Belt, and premature budding due to a warm winter caused $220 million in losses of Michigan cherries in 2012.[1]

Dealing with drought could become a challenge in areas where rising summer temperatures cause soils to become drier. Although increased irrigation might be possible in some places, in other places water supplies may also be reduced, leaving less water available for irrigation when more is needed.

Many weeds, pests, and fungi thrive under warmer temperatures, wetter climates, and increased CO2 levels. Currently, U.S. farmers spend more than $11 billion per year to fight weeds, which compete with crops for light, water, and nutrients.[1] The ranges and distribution of weeds and pests are likely to increase with climate change. This could cause new problems for farmers' crops previously unexposed to these species.

Though rising CO2 can stimulate plant growth, it also reduces the nutritional value of most food crops. Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide reduce the concentrations of protein and essential minerals in most plant species, including wheat, soybeans, and rice. This direct effect of rising CO2 on the nutritional value of crops represents a potential threat to human health. Human health is also threatened by increased pesticide use due to increased pest pressures and reductions in the efficacy of pesticides.[3]

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Impacts on Livestock

Livestock locations in the continental United States. Source: USGCRP (2016)

Click the image to view a larger version.Americans consume more than 36 million metric tons of meat and poultry annually.[4] Livestock and poultry account for over half of U.S. agricultural cash receipts, often over $100 billion per year.[5] Changes in climate could affect animals both directly and indirectly.

Heat waves, which are projected to increase under climate change, could directly threaten livestock. In 2011, exposure to high temperature events caused over $1 billion in heat-related losses to agricultural producers.[1] Heat stress affects animals both directly and indirectly. Over time, heat stress can increase vulnerability to disease, reduce fertility, and reduce milk production.

Drought may threaten pasture and feed supplies. Drought reduces the amount of quality forage available to grazing livestock. Some areas could experience longer, more intense droughts, resulting from higher summer temperatures and reduced precipitation. For animals that rely on grain, changes in crop production due to drought could also become a problem.

Climate change may increase the prevalence of parasites and diseases that affect livestock. The earlier onset of spring and warmer winters could allow some parasites and pathogens to survive more easily. In areas with increased rainfall, moisture-reliant pathogens could thrive.[6]

Potential changes in veterinary practices, including an increase in the use of parasiticides and other animal health treatments, are likely to be adopted to maintain livestock health in response to climate-induced changes in pests, parasites, and microbes. This could increase the risk of pesticides entering the food chain or lead to evolution of pesticide resistance, with subsequent implications for the safety, distribution, and consumption of livestock and aquaculture products.[3]

Increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) may increase the productivity of pastures, but may also decrease their quality. Increases in atmospheric CO2 can increase the productivity of plants on which livestock feed. However, the quality of some of the forage found in pasturelands decreases with higher CO2. As a result, cattle would need to eat more to get the same nutritional benefits.

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Impacts on Fisheries

American fishermen catch or harvest five million metric tons of fish and shellfish each year.[7] U.S. fisheries contribute more than $1.55 billion to the economy annually (as of 2012).[8] Many fisheries already face multiple stresses, including overfishing and water pollution. Climate change may worsen these stresses. In particular, temperature changes could lead to significant impacts.

This map shows the annual centers of biomass for three species in the northeastern United States from 1968 to 2015. Dots are shaded from light to dark to show change over time. Source: US EPA (2016). Climate Change Indicators in the United States: Marine Species Distribution. Data Source: NOAA (2016). OceanAdapt.Exit

Click the image to view a larger version.The ranges of many fish and shellfish species may change. In waters off the northeastern United States, several economically important species have shifted northward since the late 1960s. The three species shown in [the figure to the left]  (American lobster, red hake, and black sea bass) have moved northward by an average of 119 miles. [9]

 Many aquatic species can find colder areas of streams and lakes or move north along the coast or in the ocean. Nevertheless, moving into new areas may put these species into competition with other species over food and other resources, as explained on the Ecosystems Impacts page.

Some marine disease outbreaks have been linked with changing climate.  Higher water temperatures and higher estuarine salinities have enabled an oyster parasite to spread farther north along the Atlantic coast.  Winter warming in the Arctic is contributing to salmon diseases in the Bering Sea and a resulting reduction in the Yukon Chinook Salmon, Finally, warmer temperatures have caused disease outbreaks in coral, eelgrass, and abalone.[3],[10]

Changes in temperature and seasons can affect the timing of reproduction and migration. Many steps within an aquatic animal's lifecycle are controlled by temperature and the changing of the seasons. For example, in the Northwest warmer water temperatures may affect the lifecycle of salmon and increase the likelihood of disease. Combined with other climate impacts, these effects are projected to lead to large declines in salmon populations.[1],[11],[12]

In addition to warming, the world's oceans are gradually becoming more acidic due to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Increasing acidity could harm shellfish by weakening their shells, which are created by removing calcium from seawater. [10] Acidification also threatens the structures of sensitive ecosystems upon which some fish and shellfish rely. [1],[13]

This diagram shows the impact pathway of carbon dioxide emissions on the shellfish market.  Carbon dioxide is absorbed by oceans, resulting in ocean acidification. Acidification reduces the size and abundance of shellfish, which in turn leads to decreased harvest and eventually to changes in prices for consumers. Source: US EPA (2015). Climate Change in the United States: Benefits of Global Action

International Impacts

Climate change is very likely to affect food security at the global, regional, and local level. Climate change can disrupt food availability, reduce access to food, and affect food quality.[14]  For example, projected increases in temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, changes in extreme weather events, and reductions in water availability may all result in reduced agricultural productivity. Increases in the frequency and severity extreme weather events can also interrupt food delivery, and resulting spikes in food prices after extreme events are expected to be more frequent in the future.  Increasing temperatures can contribute to spoilage and contamination.

Internationally, these effects of climate change on agriculture and food supply are likely to be similar to those seen in the United States. However, other stressors such as population growth may magnify the effects of climate change on food security. In developing countries, adaptation options like changes in crop-management or ranching practices, or improvements to irrigation are more limited than in the United States and other industrialized nations.

Any climate-related disturbance to food distribution and transport, internationally or domestically, may have significant impacts not only on safety and quality but also on food access. For example, the food transportation system in the United States frequently moves large volumes of grain by water. In the case of an extreme weather event affecting a waterway, there are few, if any, alternate pathways for transport.  High temperatures and a shortage of rain in the summer of 2012 led to one of the most severe summer droughts the nation has seen and posed serious impacts to the Mississippi River watershed, a major transcontinental shipping route for Midwestern agriculture. This drought resulted in significant food and economic losses due to reductions in barge traffic, the volume of goods carried, and the number of Americans employed by the tugboat industry. The 2012 drought was immediately followed by flooding throughout the Mississippi in the spring of 2013, which also resulted in disruptions of barge traffic and food transport.[3]  Transportation changes such as these reduce the ability of farmers to export their grains to international markets, and can affect global food prices.

Impacts to the global food supply concern the United States because food shortages can cause humanitarian crises and national security concerns.  They also can increase domestic food prices.

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References

[1] USGCRP (2014). Hatfield, J., G. Takle, R. Grotjahn, P. Holden, R. C. Izaurralde, T. Mader, E. Marshall, and D. Liverman, 2014: Ch. 6: Agriculture. Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds., U.S. Global Change Research Program, 150-174.

[2] USDA (2016). Economic Research Service, undated. What is Agriculture’s Share of the Overall US Economy?

[3] USGCRP (2014). Ziska, L., A. Crimmins, A. Auclair, S. DeGrasse, J.F. Garofalo, A.S. Khan, I. Loladze, A.A. Pérez de León, A. Showler, J. Thurston, and I. Walls, 2016: Ch. 7: Food Safety, Nutrition, and Distribution. The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, 189–216.

[4] USDA (2015). World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates. U.S. Department of Agriculture.

[5] USDA (2016). Economic Research Service. Animal Production & Marketing Issues.

[6] CCSP (2008). The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Backlund, P., A. Janetos, D. Schimel, J. Hatfield, K. Boote, P. Fay, L. Hahn, C. Izaurralde, B.A. Kimball, T. Mader, J. Morgan, D. Ort, W. Polley, A. Thomson, D. Wolfe, M. Ryan, S. Archer, R. Birdsey, C. Dahm, L. Heath, J. Hicke, D. Hollinger, T. Huxman, G. Okin, R. Oren, J. Randerson, W. Schlesinger, D. Lettenmaier, D. Major, L. Poff, S. Running, L. Hansen, D. Inouye, B.P. Kelly, L Meyerson, B. Peterson, and R. Shaw. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA.

[7] NOAA (2014). National Marine Fisheries Service. Fisheries of the United States, 2014. NOAA Current Fishery Statistics No. 2014.

[8] USDA (2012). 2012 Census of Agriculture: Volume 1, Chapter 1: U.S. National Level Data, Table 33. U.S. Department of Agriculture.

[9] US EPA (2016). Climate Change Indicators in the United States: A Closer Look: Marine Species Distribution.

[10]  USGCRP (2014). Doney, S., A. A. Rosenberg, M. Alexander, F. Chavez, C. D. Harvell, G. Hofmann, M. Orbach, and M. Ruckelshaus, 2014: Ch. 24: Oceans and Marine Resources. Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds., U.S. Global Change Research Program, 557-578. doi:10.7930/J0RF5RZW.

[11] CCSP (2008). Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. Chapter 3. Julius, S.H., J.M. West (eds.), J.S. Baron, B. Griffith, L.A. Joyce, P. Kareiva, B.D. Keller, M.A. Palmer, C.H. Peterson, and J.M. Scott (authors). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA.

[12] IPCC (2014). Romero-Lankao, P., J.B. Smith, D.J. Davidson, N.S. Diffenbaugh, P.L. Kinney, P. Kirshen, P. Kovacs, and L. Villers Ruiz, 2014: North America. In: Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part B: Regional Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Barros, V.R., C.B. Field, D.J. Dokken, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, T.E. Bilir, M. Chatterjee, K.L. Ebi, Y.O. Estrada, R.C. Genova, B. Girma, E.S. Kissel, A.N. Levy, S. MacCracken, P.R. Mastrandrea, and L.L. White (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 1439-1498.

[13] US EPA (2015). Climate Change in the United States: Benefits of Global Action: Shellfish.

[14] USDA (2015). Brown, M.E., J.M. Antle, P. Backlund, E.R. Carr, W.E. Easterling, M.K. Walsh, C. Ammann, W. Attavanich, C.B. Barrett, M.F. Bellemare, V. Dancheck, C. Funk, K. Grace, J.S.I. Ingram, H. Jiang, H. Maletta, T. Mata, A. Murray, M. Ngugi, D. Ojima, B. O’Neill, and C. Tebaldi. 2015. Climate Change, Global Food Security, and the U.S. Food System. 146 pages.

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Climate Change Impacts

Communicating Vulnerabilities to Climate Change: Environmental Justice

EPA has developed communication materials that summarize key points from the U.S. Climate and Health Assessment on eight different populations that are disproportionately affected by climate change impacts. Stakeholders are encouraged to use or modify these materials to strengthen their conversations about climate change and health impacts to vulnerable populations.

How to Use these Materials and Summary Points: Environmental Justice (.docx)(6 pp, 1 MB)

Customizable Powerpoint Presentation: Environmental Justice (.ppt)(10 pp, 4 MB)

Shareable graphics (.jpg): [550x375] [1024x512] [1200x630]

See the Communities with Environmental Justice Concerns factsheets below. See communications materials for other populations of concern. For questions or assistance, please email climatehealth@epa.gov.

      Climate Change, Health, and Environmental Justice (PDF)(4 pp, 3 MB)

      El Cambio Climático, la Salud y la Justicia Ambiental (PDF)(4 pp, 5 MB)

      Printable (11"x17") Version: Climate Change, Health, and Environmental Justice (PDF)(2 pp, 7 MB)

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