Today the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI) for 2021. In the Index, NOAA found that pollution has caused a 49% increase in trapped heat in the atmosphere since 1990. Methane emissions in 2021 alone were estimated to be 15% greater than from 1984-2006. The AGGI is based on thousands of samples collected globally from NOAA’s Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network, and tracks increases in the warming influence of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide and methane, among other gases.
“This sharp increase in emissions shows a dire trend that will likely continue if we do not act,” said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). “I remain steadfast in ensuring our federal research and development enterprise is well-equipped as it works to develop and employ solutions to address greenhouse gas emissions. We must meet this moment and seize the significant opportunities for controlling these emissions.
The Chairwoman continued, “In order for the United States to meet its international commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it is vital that we are able to accurately measure and track these emissions. Resources like the AGGI, which has a high level of certainty in the data that it collects, are necessary to understand changes in overall atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. I look forward to continuing to work with NOAA, NASA, NIST, and our other science agencies, as they work to further refine our ability to measure and monitor human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.”
