US carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels increased 1.6 percent in 2007, a preliminary government estimate showed on Tuesday.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) said emissions rose to 5984 million metric tons last year from 5888 million in 2006.

The agency said factors that drove the emissions increase included weather conditions that increased the demand for heating and cooling services and "a higher carbon intensity of electricity supply," according to an agency statement.

Total US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions have grown by 19.4 percent since 1990, according to the agency. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions — from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas — account for over 80 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions, blamed for climate change.

The agency noted that carbon emissions rose at a slower pace than economic growth, with gross domestic product expanding 2.7 percent in 2007. US officials argue that despite the high level of emissions of the country, it is not as high as some countries when measured against GDP.

It said that from 1990 to 2007, the carbon dioxide intensity of the economy fell by 26.6 percent or 1.8 percent per year.

Carbon dioxide emissions from the residential and commercial sectors increased by 4.4 percent and 4.3 percent respectively in 2007, the EIA said.

Industrial carbon dioxide emissions fell by 0.1 percent in 2007, continuing a trend of falling emissions since 2004.

Transportation-related emissions, which account for about a third of total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, increased by 0.1 percent in 2007.

Electric power generation is the largest single source of US carbon dioxide emissions, representing 40 percent of total emissions. In 2007, emissions from the electric power sector increased by about 3.0 percent.

AFP