US Climate Action Report to UN Projects 4% Growth in Total US GHG Emissions to 2020

From 2005 through 2020, total US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are projected to rise by 4% under a “with measures” scenario (but without a cap-and-trade program and other complementary policies), from 7,109 Tg CO₂ Eq. to 7,416 Tg CO₂ Eq., while the US GDP is projected to grow by 40%, according to the fifth National Communication on US climate change actions submitted by the US Department of State to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The report projects that transportation-related CO₂ emissions will drop 1.5% to 1,853 Tg CO₂ Eq. from 2005 to 2020. This calculation, as with the other energy-related sources of CO₂ emissions in the report, is based on updates of the US Energy Information Administration’s AEO 2009 report. The transportation calculation noes not include the implementation of the new national light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas standards (earlier post) or other coming regulatory measures.

<!––>The projections represent a “business-as-usual” scenario that incorporates major policies in place as of 31 March 2009, including the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) and ARRA, as well as a number of other federal and state measures. In this sense, the “business-as-usual” projections equal the “with measures” scenario called for under the UNFCCC Guidelines for Annex 1 Communications.

The submission of the document, also called the US Climate Action Report 2010, is a requirement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The US submits a National Communication to the UN every 3-5 years. The United States released previous Climate Action Reports in 1994, 1997, 2002, and 2006…(more)

Source:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/06/car-20100603.html#more

The Future of Trucking: Pike Research Forecasts 300,000 Medium- and Heavy-Duty Hybrid Trucks and Buses Worldwide by 2015; 63% CAGR

Pike Research forecasts that worldwide sales of medium- (MD) and heavy-duty (HD) hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric trucks are will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 63%, with sales of almost 300,000 vehicles during the period from 2010 to 2015.

While North America is currently the leading region for hybrid trucks, Asia Pacific will take the lead in 2011, driven by growth in both Japan and China, according to the report. Pike Research forecasts that the United States will remain the largest singular market for hybrid trucks and buses between now and 2015, followed closely by China.

Within the past couple of years, manufacturers have significantly increased their development of hybrid electric and hydraulic hybrid drivetrains for the medium- and heavy-duty truck segments. These hybrid vehicles promise a reduction in fuel consumption between 5% and 50% depending on design, which will help reduce costs and emissions, making hybrid trucks more and more attractive for fleet managers… (more)

Source:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/06/pike-research-forecasts-300000-medium-and-heavyduty-hybrid-trucks-and-buses-worldwide-by-2015-63-cag.html#more