Greenhouse Gas Emissions
From 2020 to 2021, GHG emissions rose 1.4% but still shows major progress toward the long-term goal.
No significant movement since the last available data
Benchmark: Greenhouse gas emissions will fall 45% below 1990 levels by 2030.
Overview
In 2020, Maine’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fell when the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted daily activities. In 2021, they rose slightly, from 21.6 to 21.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. However, emissions were still 30% below 1990 levels, meaning Maine is continuing to progress toward its goal of 45% below 1990 levels by 2030.
In 2003, Maine became the first U.S. state to enact a statutory GHG target. The original goal was for emissions to be 10% below 1990 levels by 2020. Maine has been consistently below this target since 2016. In 2019, further legislation set the goal of reducing emissions 45% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050.
According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 94% of Maine’s emissions are from energy consumption, mostly from the combustion of petroleum products. The other 6% is from agriculture, industrial processes, and waste management. Movement toward renewable energy sources and lower carbon fuels such as natural gas have contributed to reduced emissions.
Fig. A
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Maine Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Source: Maine Department of Environmental Protection