• Idliketothinkimsmart@lemmygrad.ml
    ·
    4 months ago

    That's assuming we're ignoring record oil production, and the US military (which is not even required to even report emissions). Even if that oil still goes to another country, that's by all means emissions on the US' part still.

    • Soviet Entropy@lemmygrad.ml
      ·
      edit-2
      4 months ago

      you raise good points but they are already accounted for in CO2 emissions figures.

      first, CO2 emissions peaked in the 1970s when the US imported much of its oil and when coal was used as the main fossil fuel. The switch away from coal is where much of the reduction comes from, which is why emissions can fall even tho oil production is high.

      second, we don't need to ask the US military what their emissions were. we know how much they purchased in fossil fuels and that's where the estimates come from. the US military produces "51 million metric tons" each year, or about an extra 1% if you assume the numbers from https://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/carbon/ don't include it.

      so in short, no. it is not assuming we ignore record oil production or the US military. as for exports, the US imports about as much energy as it exports.