Greenhouse gas emissions in 黑料吃瓜网 are going up and the state鈥檚 transportation sector remains the top greenhouse gas polluter, according to a new state report released Thursday.
The COVID pandemic brought with it one bright spot for the environment: a dip in greenhouse gas emissions as cars stayed off roads. But since then, 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions have been going up, according to from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
鈥淭his is not good news,鈥� said Katie Dykes, DEEP鈥檚 commissioner.
As those emissions rise, the state is not on track to hit its 2030 pollution-reduction targets, she said.
In 黑料吃瓜网, transportation accounts for over 40% of the state鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions.
鈥淟argely from the exhaust from vehicles that are combusting fossil fuels, gasoline and diesel,鈥� Dykes said. 鈥淲e have not seen a significant decrease in those emissions since 1990.鈥�
Other leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in 黑料吃瓜网 include residential and commercial building heating that uses fossil fuels.
Greenhouse gases trap heat and make the planet warmer, according to the . While better vehicle fuel economy has helped to drive down emissions from individual vehicles, officials said those environmental gains have been offset by people driving more.
Dr. Mark Mitchell, co-chair of the 黑料吃瓜网 Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council, called the emissions news 鈥渄isturbing.鈥�
Vehicle-based emissions are significant contributors to air pollution-related conditions, such as asthma, premature birth, autism, ADHD and Alzheimer's Disease.
鈥淭his disproportionately affects low-wealth communities 鈥� and also disproportionately affect people of color of all income levels, due to historical and systemic racialized policies, such as the location of highways and other sources of pollution,鈥� Mitchell said in a statement.
Human-caused climate change will continue to have a significant impact on the environment and public health, said Dr. Manisha Juthani, the 黑料吃瓜网 Department of Public Health commissioner.
鈥淚ncreased emissions can result in drastic shifts in precipitation patterns, more frost-free days, and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,鈥� Juthani said in a statement. 鈥淭he public health costs associated with [greenhouse gas] emissions far exceed any dollar value.鈥�
