A new national research programme on greenhouse gas emissions from lowland peat meadows in The Netherlands

Author(s):  
Gilles Erkens ◽  
Jim Boonman ◽  

<p>Following the Paris Agreement (2015) that aims to limit climate warming, the Dutch government presented a National Climate Agreement. The National Climate Agreement allocates the overall ambition of reducing the national greenhouse gas emission by 49% in 2030 (compared to 1990) to different sectors, such as industry, mobility or agriculture and land use. Within the latter sector, the peat meadow areas currently contribute ~4.6 to 7 Mton per year of CO<sub>2</sub> to the national greenhouse gas emission. In the National Climate Agreement, the aim is to reduce the net CO<sub>2</sub> emission from the peat meadow areas with 1 Mton per year by 2030.  </p><p>The peat meadows of the Netherlands are drained peatlands for dairy farming. Drainage of peatlands causes land subsidence, and as a result of peat oxidation, greenhouse gas emissions (CO<sub>2</sub>, CH<sub>4</sub>, N<sub>2</sub>O). Critical factors that determine the level of greenhouse gas emissions from the peat meadows are amongst others the groundwater level, peat thickness, macrofossil composition, mineral cover-soil thickness, the level of fertiliser addition. In the National Climate Agreement, the main focus is on raising groundwater levels in the peat meadow area to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and subsidence. This can be either passively achieved by raising the ditch water levels, surface irrigation, reducing transpiration losses or actively by using submerged drainage systems that drain in winter, but infiltrate water in summer.</p><p>It is now time to produce regional spatial plans that comprise a compilation of measures that raise groundwater levels enough to reduce the greenhouse emissions with 1 Mton per year by 2030. To do so, it is imperative that the exact effects of the proposed measures on greenhouse gas emissions and subsidence are known, under different environmental conditions. In ongoing and previously executed studies, results so far show mixed outcomes. Therefore, a national research programme commenced autumn 2019, in which the greenhouse gas emission and subsidence is continuously measured in five field sites. The programme focusses on the effects of submerged drainage/irrigation on emissions in the first 2 growing seasons.</p><p>The consortium in charge of the national research programme consists of parties in the Netherlands that have ample experience in measuring greenhouse emission and subsidence. Each of the five field sites consists of one measurement plot in an area where the groundwater level is raised and one reference plot where the groundwater level dynamics remained the same. A measurement plot consists of continuously operating gas analyser chambers that rotate within the plot every two weeks. In two field sites, emissions are also measured using the eddy covariance method. In addition, subsidence is measured with extensometers and spirit levelling. Sensors, both in situ and above ground, provide information on relevant parameters such as soil moisture, soil temperature, oxygen availability, and meteorological parameters. Samples are being extracted from the field sites and tested on microbiological assemblages, and soil (mechanical) parameters. The whole programme is designed to run for at least five years, but first results that support policy development, are supposed to be reported in 2021.</p>

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 02006
Author(s):  
Leilei Liu ◽  
Xu Guo ◽  
Jian Ding ◽  
Hongliang Wang

Voluntary emission reduction of greenhouse gases is conducive to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fostering a carbon trading market. Voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction methodologies can be used to determine project baselines, demonstrate additionality, calculate emission reductions, and develop monitoring plans. Marine fossil fuel combustion is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions in port. Through the implementation of marine shore power system, it is possible to replace fuel consumption with electricity and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions during berthing. Through the analysis and study on shore power system, the methodology of voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction for shore power system is formed, which is conducive to promoting the participation in carbon emissions trading and promoting the promotion and use of shore power system.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089033442199476
Author(s):  
JP Dadhich ◽  
Julie P. Smith ◽  
Alessandro Iellamo ◽  
Adlina Suleiman

Background There is growing recognition that current food systems and policies are environmentally unsustainable. There is an identified need to integrate sustainability objectives into national food policy and dietary recommendations. Research Aims To (1) describe exploratory estimates of greenhouse gas emission factors for all infant and young child milk formula products and (2) estimate national greenhouse gas emission association with commercial milk formulas sold in selected countries in the Asia Pacific region. Method We used a secondary data analysis descriptive design incorporating a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) concepts and methodology to estimate kg CO2 eq. emissions per kg of milk formula, using greenhouse gas emission factors for milk powder, vegetable oils, and sugars identified from a literature review. Proportions of ingredients were calculated using FAO Codex Alimentarius guidance on milk formula products. Estimates were calculated for production and processing of individual ingredients from cradle to factory gate. Annual retail sales data for 2012–2017 was sourced from Euromonitor International for six purposively selected countries; Australia, South Korea, China, Malaysia, India, Philippines. Results Annual emissions for milk formula products ranged from 3.95–4.04 kg CO2 eq. Milk formula sold in the six countries in 2012 contributed 2,893,030 tons CO2 eq. to global greenhouse gas emissions. Aggregate emissions were highest for products (e.g., toddler formula), which dominated sales growth. Projected 2017 emissions for milk formula retailed in China alone were 4,219,052 tons CO2 eq. Conclusions Policies, programs and investments to shift infant and young child diets towards less manufactured milk formula and more breastfeeding are “Triple Duty Actions” that help improve dietary quality and population health and improve the sustainability of the global food system.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biruk Birhanu Ashenafi

Abstract Over the past couple of decades, we have witnessed a rise in greenhouse gas emissions and widening income inequality that threaten human well-being. Addressing these challenges and ensuring sustainable economic growth becomes a pressing issue for the development policy agendas across Africa. This paper offers an answer for the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on income inequality by taking the most vulnerable region. In doing so, a panel data set from 1981–2015 across 49 countries are used and applied a panel data fixed effect regression and instrumental variable method (IV). We establish s causal relationship and show that greenhouse gas emission widens income inequality. We further cemented our baseline finding using alternative emission indicators typical to the Agrarian society. Our findings shed light on alternative development policy choices to the African continent where the traditional policy prescription does not fit the current dynamics in demography, urbanization, and agricultural practices. Hence, we emphasize the Agriculture Development Lead Industrialization (ADLI) policy that places high importance on transforming the livelihood of the people engaged in agriculture. The approach has proven to unlock the trinity challenge posed by environmental degradation, income inequality, and stagnant economic growth. Indeed, industrialization can be realized through transforming agriculture first. Adding value to agriculture reduces emission, redistributes income, and eventually maintains steady per capita income growth in Africa.


Author(s):  
Hans von Storch

AbstractGood intentions by the middle class are not always well guided and do not always lead to measurable or significant results. For example, efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions may hold broad appeal but can still have negligible impact. Therefore, it is suggested to embark on “Apollo projects”, which bundle the potential and willingness of the middle class. These projects should focus on the development of specific technologies, with economic advantages to support their spread throughout the world. Doing so will harness the middle class in support of greenhouse gas emission reductions in the gigaton-range. Such pan-national projects, for example, could address emission-free ship- or air-propulsion, the electrification of heating or of processes in the chemical industry.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Enting ◽  
Nathan Clisby

Abstract. Many metrics for comparing greenhouse gas emissions can be expressed as an instantaneous Global Warming Potential multiplied by the ratio of airborne fractions calculated in various ways. The Forcing Equivalent Index (FEI) provides a specification for equal radiative forcing at all times at the expense of generally precluding point by point equivalence over time. The FEI can be expressed in terms of asymptotic airborne fractions for exponentially growing emissions. This provides a reference against which other metrics can be compared.


2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-32
Author(s):  
Natalia Vasylieva

Greenhouse gas emission is a global ecological challenge since it affects climate change and complicates providing food security. Each country ought to care about mitigating Greenhouse gas emissions including CH4 and N2O originated from agriculture. In this context, first, the performed research focused on Ukrainian ranking among the world Greenhouse gas emitters offering a multi-criteria evaluation of total Greenhouse gas quantities in CO2 equivalent, those ones per capita and per km2 of countries’ land territories. These indictors were also applied to visual comparing involvement of Ukrainian economy and its agriculture in the international Greenhouse gas emissions. Second, to explore agricultural Greenhouse gas emission at the domestic level we studied regional contributions by basic source categories such as enteric fermentation, manure management, and synthetic fertilizers. The proposed horizontal and vertical analyses allow clarifying regional management priorities in reducing Greenhouse gas emissions. Third, for this purpose the conducted investigation specified the EU Member States which match Ukrainian condition by shares of Greenhouse gas emissions and outputs in animal and crop sectors. The found patterns will be the most reliable vectors of adopting effective agricultural practices beneficial for the environment protection and mitigating influence over climate change.


Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 4514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziolo ◽  
Kluza ◽  
Spoz

Several studies have examined the relationship between environmental performance and economic development. However, most of them did not take sustainable development and financial development into account. The study argues that sustainable financial and economic development contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We use the panel data regression model to capture the relationship between greenhouse gas emission and sustainable economic and financial development. The panel data refers to the period of 2007–2017. The EU 25 countries were analysed. The results show that the relationship between sustainable financial development and environmental degradation is more relevant for converging economies than developed countries. We found that the variable “energy productivity” has the strongest impact on greenhouse gas emissions for both country groups (converging and developed); however, it increases for developed countries and it decreases the greenhouse gas emissions for converging economies. We also found that environmental taxes are an efficient instrument that mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, especially in developed countries group.


1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 569-581
Author(s):  
Mir-Akbar Hessami

The thinning of the UV-absorbing ozone layer, and the global warming effects of the higher than sustainable levels of greenhouse gases in the stratosphere cause climatic changes of catastrophic global consequences if not controlled. In order to illustrate how greenhouse gas emissions can be abated, in this paper, using Australian energy production and consumption data for 1991–92, it is first described that the nation's annual energy consumption is about 4,000 PJ, and the total annual equivalent CO2 emission (including the greenhouse effects of other gases such as CH4, N2O, SO2, and R-11 and R-12) is 495 Mte. Then, by focusing on the Australian power production and residential sectors, the potential for reducing the greenhouse gas emission is estimated to be (a) 81 Mte per annum which could be realised by improving the efficiency of power generation facilities in the country, and (b) an additional 16 Mte per annum by conserving energy in the residential sector. The sum of these reductions in greenhouse gas emission is shown to be in excess of the 1988 Toronto Conference recommendations, and the Australian government's target of 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emission below the 1988 level by 2005. Such a drop in greenhouse gas emission would also exceed the more than generous limits set for Australia in the 1997 Kyoto Summit on Climate Change. It is argued that if similar methodologies can be devised for all energy consuming sectors of the society, this endeavour would help protect our environment and preserve life on earth not only for ourselves but also for our descendants.


2021 ◽  
Vol 894 (1) ◽  
pp. 012005
Author(s):  
I Suryati ◽  
A Farindah ◽  
I Indrawan

Abstract Landfill is a place where waste reaches the final stage. The piles of waste can generate greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming the potential of climate change. The greenhouse gas emission generates from the piles of waste is CH4 emission. The research purpose is to count CH4 emission in the waste landfill in Medan city located in Terjun, projection CH4 emission for ten years later is 2020-2029 and decisive the effort reduction of CH4 emission. The scenarios of reducing CH4 emission in Terjun waste landfill reduce the potential CH4 emission for ten years later. The calculation of CH4 emission from the piles of waste in Terjun waste landfill using FOD method (First Orde Decay) by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) in 2006. In 2019, CH4 emission in Terjun waste landfill was 12,350.750-ton CH4 and had an uplift in 2029 can reach 17,143.087-ton CH4. There are two scenarios for reducing CH4 emission in the Terjun waste landfill; the first is the processing of waste in the source (composting), and the second is reducing the waste by using incineration technology Terjun landfill. The first scenario (composting) can reduce CH4 emission by 14.80%. The second scenario can reduce by 63.37% the CH4 emission in Terjun waste landfill. The chosen alternative scenario for reducing CH4 in the Terjun waste landfill is the first scenario, the processing of waste in the source (composting).


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