New Report: Texas Global Warming Pollution Up 178% Since 1960

Power Plants, Cars Main Culprits Cited in Report

AUSTIN—Global warming pollution in Texas jumped 178% between 1960 and 2001, according to The Carbon Boom, a new analysis of government data released today by Environment Texas. 

Increased coal emissions and oil emissions were responsible for 32% and 48% of this increase, respectively.

“Texas is in the frying pan with global warming,” said Environment Texas Advocate Luke Metzger. “To protect future generations from the effects of global warming, we need to stop this trend of increasing pollution.” 

Existing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies could substantially reduce global warming pollution, but the federal government has so far rejected mandatory pollution limits.

Using data compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environment Texas’ new report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel combustion nationally and by state between 1960 and 2001, the most recent year for which state-by-state data are available.  Major findings of the report include:

• Texas emitted 240.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960; by 2001, the state’s emissions had grown to 668.5 million metric tons, an increase of 178%.  Texas ranks 1st nationwide for the largest overall increase in carbon dioxide emissions over the four decades.

• Nationwide, emissions of carbon dioxide nearly doubled between 1960 and 2001, jumping from 2.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960 to almost 5.7 billion metric tons in 2001, an increase of 95 percent.

• A dramatic growth in oil combustion in the transportation sector and coal combustion for electricity generation fueled the rapid increase in U.S. carbon dioxide emissions between 1960 and 2001.  Increased coal and oil combustion each accounted for 40% of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions.

• In Texas, increased oil combustion – largely to fuel cars and light trucks – accounted for 48% of the state’s increase in carbon dioxide emissions from 1960 to 2001.  Vehicle travel increased dramatically over the period, while the fuel efficiency of U.S. vehicles stalled in the late 1980s.  The number of miles driven on Texas’ roads increased from 41.559 billion in 1960 to 216.269 billion in 2001, a per capita increase of 132%.   Increased combustion of coal and natural gas contributed 32% and 20%, respectively, of the state’s growth in emissions from 1960 to 2001.

“Texas is already number one in the country for emitting the most global warming emissions and our power plants are large contributors,” said Beth O’Brien, Clean Energy Organizer with Public Citizen. “We can’t keep digging this hole deeper by building more coal-fired power plants that increase the global warming gases Texas produces.”

The early effects of global warming are evident in Texas and worldwide.  According to NASA, 2005 was the warmest year ever recorded.  Left unchecked, global warming threatens to:

• substantially raise sea levels in Texas, inundating our coast.

• cause more frequent and severe heat waves in Texas, which will increase the number of people who suffer heat stress and stroke.

• cause more frequent and extreme droughts in Texas, as warmer temperatures evaporate moisture in the soil more quickly.

The U.S. could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing technologies to make power plants and cars more efficient and increase the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass.

“Little by little, Congress is getting the message about global warming, but we need much quicker and more decisive action,” said Bee Moorhead, Executive Director of Texas Impact. “Last summer the US Senate passed resolutions supporting US action on global warming. Texans need to urge our congressional delegation to step out front on this issue right now, especially since our own state figures so prominently both in causing global warming and in suffering its consequences.”

Oil companies – led by ExxonMobil – automakers, and most electric utilities continue to fight common sense solutions to global warming, Metzger pointed out.  For instance, ExxonMobil gave at least $15 million between 1998 and 2004 to groups working to confuse the public about the broad scientific consensus on the causes of and solutions to global warming.

Today, Rep. Henry Waxman (CA) introduced the Safe Climate Act, which provides a long-term, science-based solution to global warming.  The bill requires the U.S. to reduce its global warming pollution by 15% from today’s levels by 2020 and by 80% by 2050.  To achieve these targets, the bill calls for improved energy efficiency and a greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources, while providing companies flexibility in meeting the pollution-reduction goals through a “cap-and-trade” program.

Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas is an original co-sponsor of the bill. He said today, “We cannot wait until the entire world sizzles like a Texas tin roof in the August sun.”