Tracking Emissions

Understanding how much global warming pollution is being emitted and where those emissions are coming from is an important step to reducing emissions in Oregon. It also provides a baseline for measuring progress as the state strives to reduce its emissions.

What is Oregon’s carbon footprint?

If you account for the greenhouse gases emitted in Oregon, as well as emissions associated with electricity used by Oregonians, then the total amount of greenhouse gases that Oregon is responsible for (i.e., its “carbon footprint”) is currently about 70 million metric tons per year.  The six greenhouse gases which dominate global warming pollution are included in this total, normalized so that the relative warming “strength” of each of the gases is equivalent to that of carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide equivalent or CO₂e). As can be seen below, carbon dioxide emissions dominate in Oregon relative to the other gases and have been growing since 1990.

This graph shows how Oregon's greenhouse gas emissions have grown since 1990. It also shows that most of our emissions come from carbon dioxide.

What key sectors are responsible for Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions?

By grouping greenhouse gas emission sources into four major categories of economic activity in Oregon, and looking at the contribution of those categories over time, it is clear that there is no one sector which clearly dominates Oregon’s carbon footprint.  As can be seen in the graph below, the transportation sector has remained the largest contributor of greenhouse gases in Oregon, although the relative proportion of those emissions has decreased over time from 38 percent in 1990 to 34 percent in 2005.  Emissions associated with industrial and waste processes and facilities have remained relatively constant over time (about 27 percent combined) as have those associated with agriculture, ranching, and similar activities (about 7 percent).  The fastest growing sector in Oregon is residential and commercial buildings, where the relative contribution of that sector has increased from 27 percent in 1990 to 32 percent in 2005.

This graph shows Oregon's greenhouse gas emissions by major sectors of our economy.

Oregon does not yet have comprehensive information on which individual emitters or facilities are the largest “point sources” for greenhouse gas emissions.  In 2009 Oregon started requiring large emitters of greenhouse gases to report those emissions to the state (mandatory greenhouse gas reporting) so that information will be available in the future.

Where can I get detailed information on Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions?

You can find the greenhouse gas emission estimates used for the information above at this location as well as in Appendix B of the Commission’s 2009 Report to the Legislature.  If you want a more detailed explanation of the state’s greenhouse gas inventory, as well as emission forecasts and other analyses, please refer to Appendix 1 of this 2008 report to the Governor, A Framework for Addressing Rapid Climate Change.