Americans pumped record levels of pollution into the environment in 2004

A study of 2004 emissions of global warming gases shows U.S. pollution at a record high.

From an article on the subject from Common Dreams:
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Emissions of global warming gases from the United States have nearly doubled in 14 years and reached an all-time high in 2004, according to figures released by the American government. But new analysis suggests Europe is also falling behind in its attempt to meet legally binding United Nations targets.

The US energy department report shows emissions rose 2% in 2004 and stood one year ago at 7,122.1m tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year - about 25% of the world total. The rise was the greatest in five years and is part of an accelerating trend. Revised figures also published showed emissions in 2003 were at the second highest level. This year's figures have not been published but are expected by analysts to be similar or greater because of strong US economic growth.

The data, released just two weeks after the US government claimed at the Montreal climate talks that its voluntary approach to cutting emissions was working, drew immediate criticism from European environment groups and academics.
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Shame on us!

But that was last year. This year we've had very high gas prices. I wonder if that has made a difference. Keep fingers crossed and stay tuned for next year's report.

(In many cases, unfortunately, if the high gas prices did make a difference, it's not because people didn't want to pollute, but rather because they didn't want to pay an extra dollar per gallon to do so. What a sad, sad thing!)