Pollution Prevention/Reduction  

The production and use of energy causes pollution, which in turn impacts public health. Conserving energy, particularly on a community-wide scale, will reduce emissions of ozone, particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and volatile organic compounds, which ultimately improves the health of our environment. In addition, reducing the amount of pollutants in the air we breathe can help reduce the associated health problems resulting from breathing those pollutants. 

U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels increased by 0.9 percent in 2003, according to preliminary estimates released in late June by DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Since emissions actually declined in 2001 and grew at moderate rates in both 2002 and 2003, the emissions still remain below 2000 levels, but they are about 16 percent higher than 1990 emissions. EIA attributes the growth in 2003 to a number of factors, including increased heating demand during a cold winter, an increase in the number of U.S. homes, increased energy use in the commercial sector, and a shift in electric generation from natural gas to coal and oil, which emit more carbon. Carbon dioxide emissions account for more than 80 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and are a good indicator of trends in total emissions. In October, the EIA will release a full inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in 2003. See the press release.

A total of 234 U.S. companies and other entities have reported undertaking 2,188 projects in 2003 to reduce or sequester greenhouse gases, according to DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). The companies, participants in EIA's Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program, reduced their emissions by the equivalent to 268 million metric tons of carbon dioxide through direct emission reductions, 81 million metric tons through indirect emission reductions, and 7 million metric tons through carbon sequestration. Indirect emission reductions are reductions from sources not owned or leased by the reporting entity, but occurring as a result of the entity's activities. Compared to 2002, the cut in direct emissions increased by 1.2 percent, while the cut in indirect reductions increased by 1.1 percent. See the press release.

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney unveiled a comprehensive Climate Protection Plan for the state in May 2004, committing the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions through measures such as energy efficiency and renewable energy. The state has pledged to cut its energy use enough to cut greenhouse gas emissions at state facilities by 25 percent by 2012, and will purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient office equipment for its facilities. In addition, Massachusetts will improve its efficiency standards, encourage the construction of "green" buildings, encourage the development of renewable energy, and implement California's Low Emission Vehicle program to reduce emissions from vehicles in the state.

SC Johnson announced in early summer 2004 that it has exceeded its goal to use more environmentally preferable raw materials across all SC Johnson brands, crediting its Greenlist raw material classification system for the improvements.

The Sustainable Silicon Valley project, established in early 2004, is a "multi-stakeholder collaborative initiative to produce significant environmental improvement and resource conservation in Silicon Valley through the development and implementation of a regional environmental management system (EMS)." The participating companies -- ALZA, Calpine, Hewlett-Packard, Life Scan, Lockheed, Oracle, and PG&E -- as well the NASA Ames Research Center, Santa Clara Valley Water District, and the city of San Jose, have established a goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Santa Clara County's to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2010.

The governors of California, Oregon, and Washington announced in September 2003 that they will work together to address global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in their states. Specifically, the states will try to use their combined purchasing power to obtain fuel-efficient vehicles and tires with low rolling resistance. The states also hope to develop a chain of emissions-free truck stops along the Interstate 5 corridor (see the IdleAire technology description in the R&D 100 Awards story above) and will attempt to use a similar approach for ships in port. The three states also plan to encourage development of renewable energy resources and to develop uniform energy efficiency standards. The governors' staffs will work together to develop joint policy recommendations, to be presented to the governors no later than September 2004. Read more.

Climate Star is a partnership of the Union of Concerned Scientists and Earth Communications Office that provides information on topics related to global warming. Find out how to reduce global warming by reducing pollution, energy, use, etc.; calculate your climate footprint; and more!

DOE announced a new voluntary partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in February 2003. The new Climate VISION site, launched by DOE on behalf of the Bush Administration, is a public-private partnership to pursue cost-effective initiatives that will reduce the projected growth in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The "VISION" in the title stands for "Voluntary Innovative Sector Initiatives: Opportunities Now." It will be administered through DOE's policy and international program.

New York Governor George Pataki announced in July 2003 that nine other northeast states have agreed to join New York in a regional strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The governors of Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island have sent letters expressing their interest in working with New York to develop a cap-and-trade program for carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Maryland has indicated that they may participate in the discussions at a later date.

An important participant is a group called the Business Roundtable, which launched its own "Climate RESOLVE" initiative to meet the President's greenhouse gas emissions goals. The participating companies collectively generate about one-third of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.

In February 2003, the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) released the first national report on pollution prevention results achieved in the United States during the 1990s. The report details pollution prevention activities resulting in a total reduction of 167 billion pounds of pollutants and savings of $666 million nationwide. Read more.

The U.S. is making headway with voluntary efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In February 2002, DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) noted that companies that are currently reporting on their voluntary greenhouse gas reductions achieved 269 million metric tons of equivalent carbon dioxide reductions in 2000. The 222 companies participating in the voluntary program implemented 1,882 projects to achieve those reductions, which equaled nearly 4 percent of the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2000. Read more.

However, U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels increased by 1.3 percent in 2002, according to preliminary estimates by DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Total U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide emissions grew 16 percent over the 1990 to 2002 period. Emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels account for more than 80 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and are a good indicator of trends in total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Read more.

A large amount of information can be found in the Air Pollution Prevention section of this website.

In addition, CleanerProduction.com serves as a gateway of information about pollution prevention, sustainable business, and cleaner production.

The CDROM Greatest Hits Collection for Cleaner Production and Pollution Prevention
A number of CDs are available from Clean Washington Center on topics related to sustainable business and pollution prevention. This document may be of interest to local governments, facility managers, educational institutions, businesses and others who are looking for opportunities to prevent pollution in their organization's activities.

Publications

Our Warming World: Effects of Climate Change Bode Ill for Northwest, by Lisa Stiffler and Robert McClure, Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
This is a useful description of the various effects of climate change on air, water, plant and animal life, recreation, etc. mainly in the State of Washington. It includes links to two major scientific reports, one from an international organization and the other from a national one. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 13, 2003.

Pollution Prevention Summary Report
Produced by the Minnesota Interagency Pollution Prevention Advisory Team, this annual publication is a summary of the progress made by State agencies in preventing pollution.

Last updated: March 3, 2005

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