U.S. carbon dioxide emissions up 20 percent since 1990

Apr 15, 2009 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Matthew Preusch The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.

The amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere in the United States increased 1.4 percent in 2007.

That's the conclusion of a report put out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tracking emissions from 1990 to 2007.

The agency said the rise in the amount of heat-trapping gases stemmed from increased burning of fossil fuels and electricity use.

Overall, the amount of carbon dioxide released from direct human causes jumped more than 20 percent from 1990 to 2007, the report said.