Thanks, recession: CO2 emissions down in '09

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Carbon dioxide emissions fell a record 7 percent in 2009, due to economic recession and more efficient fuel use according to statistics released Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration.

Emissions have declined in three of the last four years, but 2009 was "exceptional," according to the data-heavy report. It was the largest absolute and percentage decline (405 million metric tons or 7 percent) since the agency began collecting annual data in 1949.

A drop in energy demand from the transportation sector contributed to the overall decline last year. The report states that motor gasoline alone accounts for about 60 percent of total transportation energy use. Consumption of petroleum-based fuels in 2007 averaged 14,287 thousand barrels per day. By 2008 that had fallen to 13,712 thousand barrels per day and by 2009 to 13,277 barrels per day — 7.1 percent lower than 2007.

Why the drop? In 2008, it was blamed on a spike in fuel prices during the first half of the year, following by an economic slide. The downturn continued in 2009 despite the fact that fuel prices remained low.

Other factors contributing to lower CO2 emissions include an increase in the use of lower-carbon natural gas and renewable energy sources.

The report concludes that 2010 will be pivotal year to watch. While total emissions across all sectors were down in 2009, the drop was especially pronounced in the industrial sector.

If energy-intensive industries lead the economic recovery that appears to be gaining strength in 2010, emissions will increase faster than if service industries or light manufacturing play the leading role.