Transportation was the largest category of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington during 2019. This category includes emissions from on-road gasoline and diesel vehicles, marine vessels, jet fuel and aviation gasoline, railroads, and natural gas used in transportation. Emissions from on-road gasoline — personal cars and trucks — make up over half of total emissions in this category.
• 39.5% of total Washington emissions
• 40.3 million metric tons of emissions
Learn more about how we’re helping reduce greenhouse gases from transportation.
Emissions in this sector come from burning fuels for heating homes and workplaces, and energy used by industries. This category includes heat generated from coal, natural gas, and oil.
• 25% of total Washington emissions
• 25.3 million metric tons of emissions
Learn more about how we’re helping reduce greenhouse gases from residential, commercial, and industrial heating.
Worldwide, electricity generation is the largest source of carbon emissions, but the category comes in third in Washington. This category includes emissions from power generated from coal, natural gas, petroleum, and waste.
• 21% of total Washington emissions
• 21.9 million metric tons of emissions
Learn more about how we’re helping reduce greenhouse gases from electricity generation.
Agriculture — 6.2 million metric tons
Agricultural activities such as manure management, fertilizer use, and livestock digestion (enteric fermentation) result in methane and nitrous oxide emissions, which are measured in this category.
• 6.1% of total Washington emissions
• 6.2 million metric tons of emissions
Industrial processes — 5.3 million metric tons
This sector includes greenhouse gas emissions from industry-specific processes such as aluminum or cement manufacturing, or fugitive emissions such as sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) released from electric power transmission and distribution systems.
• 5.2% of total Washington emissions
• 5.3 million metric tons of emissions
Waste management — 2.4 million metric tons
This sector includes greenhouse gas emissions from landfills and wastewater treatment facilities.
• 2.4% of total Washington emissions
• 2.4 million metric tons of emissions
Natural gas distribution — 0.7 million metric tons
This sector includes fugitive greenhouse gas emissions that are released during distribution of fossil fuels. These emissions are typically fugitive methane due to leakage and venting from natural gas pipelines.
• <1% of total Washington emissions
• 0.7 million metric tons of emissions