According to the Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, an online analysis released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), it is the largest percentage increase in US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions since 1988.
The factors that influenced the rise in emissions include increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) of 3.0%, and increase of the of the energy consumed per dollar of GDP (Energy/GDP) by 0.7% 2010.
The consumption of coal, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, rose by 6% in 2010 after falling by 12% in 2009.
EIA acting administrator Howard Gruenspech said that the 3.9% percent increase in emissions in 2010 was primarily driven by the rebound from the economic downturn experienced in 2008 and 2009.
