Despite American inaction on climate change, emissions dropped in 2006. The AP reports:
The department’s Energy Information Administration said Wednesday that preliminary data shows a 1.3 percent decline in the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide released in 2006 from energy-related sources, the first decline in 11 years and the biggest decline since 1990. . . .
Whether the decline of 78 million metric tons was an anomaly, or an indicator of something more, was unclear.
The Energy Department report said one reason for the decline was that 2006 had “weather conditions favorable for emission reductions.” . . .
In 2006 there was a mild winter that reduced heating degree days by 7.4 percent, and a cooler than normal summer that cut cooling-degree days by 1 percent, both compared to 2005, the agency said. . . .
Carbon dioxide from natural gas declined by 1.7 percent and coal _which accounts for the most carbon emissions per unit of energy produced of any fossil fuel