Understanding the Decline in CO2 Emissions in 2009

This Report by the Engery Information Administration dated October 2009 finds that projected carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels in the Short-Term Energy Outlook, October 2009, fall by 5.9 percent in 2009 compared with 2008 (Table 1). Coal accounts for 63 percent of the total decline in CO2 emissions from fossil fuels this year. Projected coal CO2 emissions fall by 10.1 percent in 2009, primarily because of lower consumption for electricity generation. Forecast lower natural gas and petroleum emissions this year make up 7 percent and 30 percent of the projected total decline in CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, respectively.