State’s greenhouse gas emissions up 9 percent over 12 years

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan has released the state’s first greenhouse gas inventory, which shows that between 1990 and 2002, harmful emissions increased 9 percent, which is below the national average of 13 percent.

The study, conducted by three graduate students at the Center for Sustainable Systems and a U-M faculty member, provides a baseline of greenhouse gas emissions for 1990 and 2002, and establishes emission trends that could be used to support future policy decisions in Michigan. Michigan is the 41st state to conduct a greenhouse gas inventory.

“Global climate change can be considered the most challenging environmental issue facing society in the 21st century and the Michigan has an important role to play in addressing this issue,” said Associate Professor Gregory Keoleian, faculty adviser and co-director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the School of Natural Resources and Environment.

The study assessed five greenhouse gas categories including CO2, methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N20), HFC’s and PFC’s; and sulfur hexafuoride (SF6). Total emissions amounted to 62.59 million metric tons carbon equivalent (MMTCE) in 2002, up from 57.42 MMTCE in 1990, an increase of 9 percent.

“The emission growth that was seen in Michigan is basically about the same amount of population growth that we’ve had over the 12 years,” said Pierre Bull, one of the three graduate students who authored the report.

The emissions intensity decreased by about 24 percent, which means Michigan is getting more dollars of gross state product for a lesser amount of emissions being emitted, Bull said. This can be attributed to a shift to lower carbon intensity and a rise in service industries contributing overall to the state’s economy.

The emissions intensity decreased by about 24 percent, which means Michigan is getting more dollars of gross state product for a lesser amount of emissions being emitted, Bull said. This can be attributed to a shift to lower carbon intensity and a rise in service industries contributing overall to the state’s economy.

Agriculture contributed 3 percent, and industrial processes and waste contributed 5 percent each, the report said. Non-energy related industrial process emissions increased 71 percent, driven primarily by ozone depleting substitutes (materials that are used in place of those that deplete the ozone in applications such as refrigeration) and the iron and steel iron industry.

The report offers several recommendations:

• Compile this inventory on a regular basis.

• Adopt a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard mandating that a certain percentage of a utility’s plant capacity or generation comes from renewable sources. Eighteen other states have such legislation

• Develop a state action plan to move Michigan toward a cleaner energy infrastructure and contribute globally to reducing emissions. Twenty-nine other states have such a plan.

The student research team included Bull, Colin McMillan, and Asako Yamamoto.

The project was sponsored by the Energy Foundation, DTE Energy Foundation, Center for Sustainable Systems, the Education Foundation of America, and the State of Michigan.

Related links:The 128-page study in Acrobat PDF format >

Center for Sustainable Systems >

Gregory Keoleian >