Fast Facts on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to anthropogenic U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990–2020 (the national inventory that the U.S. prepares annually under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), transportation accounted for the largest portion (27%) of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2020. Cars, trucks, commercial aircraft, and railroads, among other sources, all contribute to transportation end-use sector emissions.
2020 U.S. GHG Emissions by Sector
2020 U.S. Transportation Sector GHG Emissions by Source
Note: Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. Transportation emissions do not include emissions from non-transportation mobile sources such as agriculture and construction equipment. “Other” sources include buses, motorcycles, pipelines and lubricants.
For more information on U.S. GHG Emissions from Transportation and what the numbers in these pie charts represent, please see: Fast Facts: U.S. Transportation Sector GHG Emissions (pdf) (EPA-420-F-22-018, May 2022)
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