Greenhouse gas emissions fell nearly 10 percent from 2005 to 2012, according to the latest national emissions inventory released by the EPA.

Reuters reports that emissions dropped 3.4 percent from 2012 to 2011, mostly due decreased energy consumption and the switch from coal to natural gas for power generation.

The 19th annual emissions tally to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change reports that the US is more than halfway toward the 2020 target.

Pollution levels from 2005 are used as a benchmark to measure emissions cuts. Since 1990, the first year the US kept the inventory, carbon dioxide emissions – largely energy-related emissions and the most prevalent greenhouse gas – rose just 5.4 percent.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), super greenhouse gases used primarily as refrigerants, saw a dramatic rise of over 309 percent.