(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) shington April 16 - Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States (US) decreased 3.4% in 2012 from 2011 level the 19th annual report released by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says. The Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks submitted annually to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change presents a national-level overview of annual greenhouse gas emissions since 1990. Decrease in energy consumption in all sectors of the economy as well as decrease in carbon intensity for electricity generation due to fuel switching from coal to natural gas contributed to the GHG emissions drop. Higher fuel efficiency and limited new demand for passenger transportation decreased GHG emissions in this sector. GHG are the primary driver of climate change. They cause health issues rise in disease-spreading insects heat waves droughts and other extreme weather events. Under President Barack Obama's Climate Action Plan EPA is addressing carbon pollution from the power and transportation sectors. It is pushing to improve energy efficiency in homes businesses and factories. This includes increasing fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks for model years 2012-2025 that over the lifetime of these vehicles will save Americans more than $1.7 Trillion. EPA also increased energy efficiency through the Energy Star programme that saved Americans more than $26 Billion in utility bills in 2012. According to the report GHG emissions in 2012 showed a 10 percent drop below 2005 levels. Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2012 were equivalent to 6526 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. These gases include carbon dioxide methane nitrous oxide hydro fluorocarbons per fluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride
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