{"id":85154,"key":"U.S._Greenhouse_Gas_Emission_Bottlenecks:_Prioritization_of_Targets_for_Climate_Liability","title":"U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emission Bottlenecks: Prioritization of Targets for Climate Liability","latest":{"id":1223500,"timestamp":"2026-01-08T22:46:46Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:Bottlenecksco2usa.png|thumb]]\n\n{{Publication data\n| type = Paper\n| cite-as = Alexis S. Pascaris and Joshua M. Pearce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Bottlenecks: Prioritization of Targets for Climate Liability. ''Energies'' 13(15), 2020, 3932; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13153932 [https://www.academia.edu/43759384/U.S._Greenhouse_Gas_Emission_Bottlenecks_Prioritization_of_Targets_for_Climate_Liability open access]\n}}\n\n{{Project data\n| authors = Alexis S. Pascaris, User:J.M.Pearce\n| location = Michigan, USA\n}}\n\n{{MOST}}\n\nDue to market failures that allow uncompensated negative externalities from burning fossil fuels, there has been a growing call for climate change-related litigation targeting polluting companies. To determine the most intensive carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>)-emitting facilities in order prioritize liability for climate lawsuits, and risk mitigation strategies for identified companies as well as their insurers and investors, two methods are compared: (1) the conventional point-source method and (2) the proposed bottleneck method, which considers all emissions that a facility enables rather than only what it emits. Results indicate that the top ten CO<sub>2</sub> emission bottlenecks in the U.S. are predominantly oil (47%) and natural gas (44%) pipelines. Compared to traditional point-source emissions methods, this study has demonstrated that a comprehensive bottleneck calculation is more effective. By employing an all-inclusive approach to calculating a polluting entity's CO2 emissions, legal actions may be more accurately focused on major polluters, and these companies may preemptively mitigate their pollution to curb vulnerability to litigation and risk. The bottleneck methodology reveals the discrete link in the chain of the fossil-fuel lifecycle that is responsible for the largest amount of emissions, enabling informed climate change mitigation and risk management efforts.\n\n{{Pearce publications notice}}\n\n{{Video|cDEnYx97dOM|US Greenhouse Bottlenecks}}\n\n== See also ==\n\n{{Pearce-climate-crisis}}\n\n* [[Liability for carbon emissions literature review]]\n* Ekwurzel, B., J. Boneham, M.W. Dalton, R. Heede, R.J. Mera, M.R. Allen, & P.C. Frumhoff (2017) The rise in global atmospheric CO2, surface temperature, and sea level from emissions traced to major carbon producers, Climatic Change[https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10584-017-1978-0.pdf]\n* Shue, Henry (2017) Responsible for What? Carbon Producer CO2 Contributions and the Energy Transition, Springboard Commentary on Ekwurzel et al., Climatic Change, online [https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10584-017-2042-9.pdf]\n\n --\n\nFollow up\n\n* http://blog.ucsusa.org/elliott-negin/will-new-scientific-breakthroughs-pave-the-way-for-more-climate-related-lawsuits\n* Heede, R. (2014). Tracing anthropogenic carbon dioxide and methane emissions to fossil fuel and cement producers, 1854–2010. Climatic Change, 122(1-2), 229-241. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-013-0986-y\n\n== In the News ==\n\n# [https://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2020/august/mtu-researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability.html MTU Researchers Introduce New Theory to Calculate Emissions Liability] MTU News 20.9k (noon Friday)\n## [https://www.miragenews.com/researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability/ Mirage]92k\n## [https://serendeputy.com/d/0172a59017 Serendeputy] 69k\n## [https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability/ The National Tribune]\n## [https://www.enn.com/articles/65044-mtu-researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability Environmental News Network] 235k\n## [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sRYiskX8-E YouTube] Today's Sciencology\n# [https://www.newswise.com/articles/new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability-a-profound-business-risk-for-some-companies New Theory to Calculate Emissions Liability—\"A Profound Business Risk for Some Companies\"] NewsWise 50.2k\n# [https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/mtu-rin082520.php Researchers introduce new theory to calculate emissions liability ] Eureka Alert 19.4k\n## [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200825124624.htm Science Daily]3.3k\n## [https://phys.org/news/2020-08-theory-emissions-liability.html Phys.org]5.6k\n## [https://news.knowledia.com/US/en/articles/researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability-f6aa8ed5cf5f5b16de0c3acd8c8efe5f275ecaa3 Knowlodia] 65k\n## [https://scienmag.com/researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability/ Scienmag]316k\n## [https://www.sciencecodex.com/researchers-introduce-new-theory-calculate-emissions-liability-654978 Science Codex]\n## [https://www.occupyindependents.com/researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability/ Occupy Independents]\n## [https://bioengineer.org/researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability/ Bioengeer]\n## [https://gotravelblogger.com/researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability/ Go Travel Blogger]\n## [https://qnewshub.com/science/researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability/ QNews Hub]\n# [https://pvbuzz.com/questioning-conventional-methods-of-calculating-carbon-emissions-point-source-pollution/ Questioning conventional methods of calculating carbon emissions liability based on point source pollution] PV Buzz\n# [https://revo30.org/mtu-researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability.html MTU Researchers Introduce New Theory to Calculate Emissions Liability] Revo30\n# [https://www.labmanager.com/news/researchers-introduce-new-theory-to-calculate-emissions-liability-23673 Researchers Introduce New Theory to Calculate Emissions Liability] Lab Manager 105k\n# [https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/525302180/new-study-many-critical-carbon-emissions-bottlenecks-in-the-u-s-are-not-even-american New study: Many critical carbon emissions bottlenecks in the U.S. are not even American] EI News 39k\n# [https://www.levernews.com/the-missing-data-behind-manchins-dirty-pipeline-deal/ The Missing Data Behind Manchin's Dirty Pipeline Deal] Lever News\n\n{{Page data\n| title-tag = U.S. GHG Emission Prioritization for Climate Liability\n| keywords = MOST completed projects and publications, Climate change, Climate change mitigation, Climate action, Law, renewable energy, litigation, liability, global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, K energy policy, greenhouse gas liability, climate change liability, risk analysis, risk management, climate governance, corporate environmental responsibility, climate lawsuits, carbon dioxide emissions\n| sdg = SDG13 Climate action\n| description = Appropedia explores climate litigation strategies that target emissions bottlenecks and hold major polluters accountable.\n}}\n\n[[Category:MOST completed projects and publications]]\n[[Category:Climate action]]\n[[Category:Law]]\n[[Category:Renewable energy]]"}