Greenhouse Gases

Gases that absorb and trap heat in the atmosphere are called “greenhouse gases.” Many human activities cause greenhouse gas emissions, particularly since the Industrial Revolution. Population growth and growing emissions sources are releasing more greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. As the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere increases, the amount of heat trapped by the atmosphere also increases, causing the overall warming of the planet. The various impacts from this warming are referred to as climate change.

The urgency to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions continues to grow. This urgency is highlighted through multiple comprehensive scientific reports as well as direct lived experience in the Northwest, where we have experienced record-setting temperatures and unprecedented wildfire smoke impacts in recent years.

Washington State has passed ambitious legislation to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the federal government made significant funding available for climate actions. Our region and state will need to optimize these opportunities and more to meet our science-based climate targets. Our Agency’s 2030 target is for the region’s greenhouse gas emissions to be 50% below 1990 emissions levels.

Climate Actions

Learn more about the Agency’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change: 

• Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG)
• Clean Transportation
• Clean Heating Choices

Emissions Sources and Targets

The Agency supports development of regional emissions inventories to help identify the sources for greenhouse gas emissions.  These reports can then be used to inform actions to reduce emissions.

The Puget Sound Regional Emissions Analysis report provides a comprehensive update of King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties’ geographic greenhouse gas emissions for 2019.

The Puget Sound Maritime Emissions Inventory quantifies maritime-related emissions for the calendar year 2021 and compares them to inventories from 2005 and 2016.  Ports, Partners, and the public can track emission reduction progress resulting from individual port or collaborative efforts.

Emissions Sources

Figure 1. Sources of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019

As identified in the Puget Sound Regional Emissions Analysis, nearly 40% of the greenhouse gas pollution in our region comes from transportation – cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes.

Another 39% of emissions in 2019 came from buildings, with 90% of these emissions caused by electricity and natural gas use.

Emissions Targets

Our Agency’s goal is to reduce the region’s greenhouse gas emissions to 50% below 1990 levels by 2030, and the region is on a trajectory to achieve the state goal of 95% below 1990 levels by 2050. 

Region-wide emissions were estimated at 43.8 MMTCO2e in 1990 and had risen to 48 MMTCO2e in the latest inventory. Urgent action is needed to meet the Agency's climate goals.