Meeting Our GHG Goals

In 1990, Oregon's recorded levels of greenhouse gases totaled 57.3 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent.

with the commission’s 2023-updated ghg goals, this means that Oregon's levels should be 3 Million mtco2e or lower by 2050.

In 2021, Oregon’s emissions totaled 61.4 million mtco2e.

In 2007, the Oregon Legislature first established climate change goals for the state through House Bill 3543.

HB 3543 called on Oregon to prepare for the effects of climate change, and set specific greenhouse gas reduction goals, including arresting the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2010; reducing emissions to at least 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020; and reducing emissions by at least 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

In 2020, Governor Brown issued Executive Order 20-04, which added a 2035 interim goal similar to the Commission-recommended goal, and updated the 2050 goal:

  • Achieve greenhouse gas levels that are 45 percent below 1990 levels by 2035.

  • Achieve greenhouse gas levels that are at least 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

In 2023, as part of the Climate Action Roadmap to 2030, the commission recommended a package of GHG goal updates including:

  • Oregon will achieve at least a 45 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2030.

  • Oregon will achieve at least a 70 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2040.

  • Oregon will achieve at least a 95 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2050.

  • By 2050, or as soon as practicable, Oregon will also achieve net zero emissions and achieve and maintain net negative emissions thereafter.

Review the Commission's Reports for detailed analysis and recommendations regarding progress toward meeting our goals.

Oregon's Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Data presented below are from the Oregon Climate Action Commission's* 2023 Report to the Legislature. Click on charts/tables to enlarge.

 

Oregon Emissions by Sector & SOURCE

The following table and chart summarize GHG emissions by economic sectors between 1990 and 2021. The transportation sector is the largest contributor of GHG emissions, followed by the residential and commercial sector. Overall emissions dipped between 2000 and 2014, followed by an overall increase in subsequent years. Emissions dropped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but emissions in 2021 returned close to pre-pandemic levels.

 

Oregon also reviews emissions by source, breaking out electricity and natural gas use to better understand how sources are contributing to overall emissions. Transportation remains the largest greenhouse gas emitter, followed by electricity and natural gas use. Emissions from electricity and natural gas have remained relatively constant over the last decade, but recent policies aim to significantly reduce these emissions moving forward.

 

Oregon's Greenhouse Gas Emission Projections

Thanks to the Climate Action Roadmap to 2030, the commission now has the most detailed forecast of future emissions it has ever had. This forecast shows that with robust and continuous implementation of the programs and regulations already adopted in Oregon (see Recommendation 1 in the Roadmap to 2030), the state is on track to meet its 2035 GHG emission reduction goal. However, more action will be needed to meet the new Roadmap-recommended goals. The Roadmap identified 35 additional actions the state could take to meet the Roadmap-recommended 2030 goal (see Recommendation 3 in the Roadmap to 2030). Taking these actions would put Oregon on track to meet its 2030 goal, and likely its 2040 goal.

For more information on Oregon's current emissions inventory, projections, and in-depth analysis and recommendations, please see the Commission's Reports.

*The report was submitted under the name Oregon Global Warming Commission. The commission became the Oregon Climate Action Commission in 2024.