Persistently high CH4 emissions 10 years after restoration: The necessity for long-term observations when measuring GHG emissions of transitional systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica Antonijevic ◽  
Shrijana Vaidya ◽  
Claudia Vincenz ◽  
Nicole Jurisch ◽  
Nathalia Pehle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Shallow Lake ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Measurement Site ◽  
Flux Measurements

<p>When drained for e.g. agricultural use, natural peatlands turn from a net C sink to a net C source. It is therefore suggested that restoration of peatlands, despite of increasing CH<sub>4</sub> emissions, holds the potential to mitigate climate change by reducing their overall global warming potential. The time span required for this transition, however, is fairly unknown. Moreover, greenhouse gas emission measurements from peatlands are often limited to a couple of years only. This is problematic in so far, as most peatland ecosystems are in transitional stage due to restoration related disturbances (e.g. enhanced water table) and global climate change. This might affect GHG emissions in one way or another which emphasizes the necessity of longer-term observations to avoid misinterpretations and premature conclusions.        <br>Exemplary for that, we present 14 consecutive years of CH<sub>4</sub> flux measurements following restoration at a formerly long-term drained fen grassland within the Peene river catchment (near the town of Zarnekow: 53.52⁰N, 12.52⁰E). Restoration of peatland was done by simply opening the dike. Thus, no water table management was established and water table was strongly fluctuating.  CH<sub>4</sub> flux measurements were conducted at two sites (restored vs. non-restored) using non-flow-through non-steady-state (NFT-NSS) opaque chambers.  <br>Throughout the 14 years study period, distinct stages of an ecosystems transition, differing in their impact on measured CH<sub>4</sub> emissions, were observed. During the first two years of the measurement period directly following restoration in autumn 2004, an eutrophic shallow lake was formed. This development was accompanied by a fast vegetation shift from dying off cultivated grasses to submerged hydrophytes and helophytes and evidenced substantially increased CH<sub>4</sub> emissions. Since 2008, helophytes have gradually spread from the shore line into the established shallow lake especially during drying years. This process was only periodically delayed by exceptional inundation, such as in 2011, 2012 and 2015, and finally resulted in coverage of the measurement site in 2016 and 2017. While, especially the period between 2009 and 2015 showed exceptionally high CH<sub>4</sub> emissions, these decreased significantly after helophytes were established at the measurement site. Hence, CH<sub>4</sub> emissions only decreased after ten years transition following restoration and potentially reaching a new steady state.</p>

EMISSION CERTIFICATE TRADE AND COSTS UNDER REGIONAL BURDEN-SHARING REGIMES FOR A 2°C CLIMATE CHANGE CONTROL TARGET

2014 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
pp. 1440001 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. KOBER ◽  
B. C. C. VAN DER ZWAAN ◽  
H. RÖSLER
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Burden Sharing ◽  
Climate Assessment ◽  
Sharing Scheme ◽  
Control Target ◽  
Cost Distribution ◽  
Energy Economy

In this article we explore regional burden-sharing regimes for the allocation of greenhouse gas emission reduction obligations needed to reach a 2°C long-term global climate change control target by performing an integrated energy-economy-climate assessment with the bottom–up TIAM-ECN model. Our main finding is that, under a burden-sharing scheme based on the allowed emissions per capita, the sum of merchandized carbon certificates yields about 2000 billion US$/yr worth of inter-regional trade around 2050, with China and Latin America the major buyers, respectively Africa, India, and other Asia the main sellers. Under a burden-sharing regime that aims at equal cost distribution, the aggregated amount of transacted carbon certificates involves less than 500 billion US$/yr worth of international trade by 2050, with China and other Asia representing the vast majority of selling capacity. Restrictions in the opportunities for international certificate trade can have significant short- to mid-term impact, with an increase in global climate policy costs of up to 20%.

scholarly journals Agriculture Adaptation to Consequences of Global Climate Changes

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-20
Author(s):  
D. G. Galkin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Global Climate Changes ◽  
Change Impact ◽  
Agriculture Development

The goal of the article is to work out recommendations aimed at providing sustainability of agriculture development on the level of national economy in conditions of changing climate. The agriculture development within the frames of traditional approach can be studied in two aspects: as a sector subjected to the global climate change impact; as a sector promoting climate change due to greenhouse gas emission. The authors showed that in regard to present trends scientific recommendations aimed at agriculture adaptation to climate changes are the most significant for Russia. On the basis of provided concepts they identified key lines in the said adaptation: to develop innovation connected with adaptation to consequences of climate changes; to upgrade the system of agro-insurance; to use methods of organic food production; to monitor and appraise adaptation of agriculture to climate changes; to introduce strategic planning of sustainable development and location of agricultural production. These lines should be realized on the basis of integrity, strategic orientation and scientific support of agricultural production. These lines can stabilize the level of key parameters of the sector in the long-term perspective.

Quantification of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions From California Self-Generation Incentive Program Projects

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaiysha Khursheed ◽  
George Simons ◽  
Brad Souza ◽  
Jennifer Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Renewable Fuels ◽  
Incentive Program ◽  
The U.S

Over the past few decades, interest in the effects of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on global climate change has peaked. Increasing temperatures worldwide have been blamed for numerous negative impacts on agriculture, weather, forestry, marine ecosystems, and human health. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that the primary GHG emitted in the U.S. is carbon dioxide (CO2), most of which stems from fossil fuel combustion [1]. In fact, CO2 represents approximately 85% of all GHG emissions nationwide. The other primary GHGs include nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), ozone (O3), and fluorinated gases. Since the energy sector is responsible for a majority of the GHGs released into the atmosphere, policies that address their mitigation through the production of electricity using renewable fuels and distributed generation are of significant interest. Use of renewable fuels and clean technologies to meet energy demand instead of relying on traditional electrical grid systems is expected to result in fewer CO2 and CH4 emissions, hence reducing global climate change impacts. Technologies considered cleaner include photovoltaics, wind turbines, and combined heat and power (CHP) devices using microturbines or internal combustion engines. The Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) in California [2] provides incentives for the installation of these technologies under certain circumstances. This paper assesses the GHG emission impacts from California’s SGIP during the 2005 program year by estimating the reductions in CO2 and CH4 released when SGIP projects are in operation. Our analysis focuses on these emissions since these are the two GHGs characteristic of SGIP projects. Results of this analysis show that emissions of GHGs are reduced due to the SGIP. This is because projects operating under this program reduce reliance on electricity generated by conventional power plants and encourage the use of renewable fuels, such as captured waste heat and methane.

scholarly journals Energy Security and Climate Change: India’s Responses to the Challenges

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Vinodan ◽  
Anju Lis Kurian
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Energy Security ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Agrarian Economy ◽  
Developed World

Energy is the prominent navigator of climate change as it contributes to most of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) and the burning of fossil fuels are the foremost sources of GHG emissions. Climate change is a major challenge for developing countries like India that face large scale climate variability and are exposed to enhanced risks from climate change. Few countries in the world are as vulnerable to the effects of climate change as India is with its vast population that is dependent on the growth of its agrarian economy, its expansive coastal areas and the Himalayan region and islands. The vulnerabilities of climate change and energy insecurity are directing a global changeover towards a low carbon and sustainable energy path. In the UNFCC, India has cleared its stand that it would not make any commitments to trim down its GHG emissions as it has one of the least per capita emissions and in the fi rst place the developed world is responsible for the dilemma and the developing world requires the carbon space to spring up. But by being a responsible and progressive member of the international community, India demonstrated the flexibility towards the endeavours to trim down climate change causalities. India is endowed with diverse natural resources such as solar, wind, water and biomass; these are the promising resources to meet up the energy requirements of the coming years. The present paper attempts to analyse the linkages between climate change and energy security. The paper also aims to project India’s response to the global climate regime. The paper argues that the problems of climate change and energy security are the major obstacles for India’s energy policy while they open gargantuan opportunities to shift its people to cleaner energy trajectories and know-how in the long term.  

On Climate Change Risks of Long-Term Socio-Economic Development in Russia

2019 ◽  
pp. 79-95
Author(s):  
N.E. Terentiev
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Climate Risk ◽  
Climate Change Risks ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Management Policies

Based on the latest data, paper investigates the dynamics of global climate change and its impact on economic growth in the long-term. The notion of climate risk is considered. The main directions of climate risk management policies are analyzed aimed, first, at reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions through technological innovation and structural economic shifts; secondly, at adaptation of population, territories and economic complexes to the irreparable effects of climate change. The problem of taking into account the phenomenon of climate change in the state economic policy is put in the context of the most urgent tasks of intensification of long-term socio-economic development and parrying strategic challenges to the development of Russia.

On the Ethics of International Religious/Spiritual Gatherings and Academic Conferencing in the Era of Global Warming: A Case Study of the Parliament of The World’s Religions Melbourne 2009 - Part 1

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-195
Author(s):  
Almut Beringer ◽  
Steven Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Peak Oil ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Academic Events ◽  
Special Responsibility

Global climate change and its impacts have ethical dimensions, for instance carbon footprint equity concerns. World issues, including the state of the ecosphere and biodiver­sity, regularly see political leaders, NGOs, business representatives, religious/spiritual orga­nizations, academics, and others engage in international aviation-dependent meetings to address critical challenges facing humanity and the planet. Yet, climate scientists and advocates call for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 to cap the increase in global temperatures to 2ºC. Aviation emissions resulting from international meetings raise questions that are not silenced by GHG emissions offsetting. The era of climate change and ‘peak oil’ poses ethical challenges for holding international in-person religious and academic events, especially when the events propound an environmentalist concern and when aviation use is assumed. This paper raises ques­tions regarding the ecological impacts of large international events and focuses the ‘inconvenient truths’ associated with international aviation in the era of global warming. The Parliament of the World’s Religions, the largest multifaith gathering in the world, serves as a case study. The paper emphasizes the view that faith-based/faith-inspired organizations have a special responsibility for leadership in policy and praxis on the moral imperatives of sustainability, sustainable development and climate justice.

scholarly journals Testing Farmers’ Perception of Climate Variability: A Case Study from Kirtipur of Kathmandu Valley

2012 ◽  
pp. 30-34
Author(s):  
Jiban Mani Poudel
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Kathmandu Valley ◽  
Climatic Fluctuations ◽  
Climate Fluctuations ◽  
Global And Local

In the 21st century, global climate change has become a public and political discourse. However, there is still a wide gap between global and local perspectives. The global perspective focuses on climate fluctuations that affect the larger region; and their analysis is based on long-term records over centuries and millennium. By comparison, local peoples’ perspectives vary locally, and local analyses are limited to a few days, years, decades and generations only. This paper examines how farmers in Kirtipur of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, understand climate variability in their surroundings. The researcher has used a cognized model to understand farmers’ perception on weather fluctuations and climate change. The researcher has documented several eyewitness accounts of farmers about weather fluctuations which they have been observing in a lifetime. The researcher has also used rainfall data from 1970-2009 to test the accuracy of perceptions. Unlike meteorological analyses, farmers recall and their understanding of climatic variability by weather-crop interaction, and events associating with climatic fluctuations and perceptions are shaped by both physical visibility and cultural frame or belief system.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hn.v11i1.7200 Hydro Nepal Special Issue: Conference Proceedings 2012 pp.30-34

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculation Methodology in Thermal Power Plants: Case Study of Iran and Comparison With Canada

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farshid Zabihian ◽  
Alan S. Fung
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Thermal Power Plants

Nowadays, the global climate change has been a worldwide concern and the greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions are considered as the primary cause of that. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) divided countries into two groups: Annex I Parties and Non-Annex I Parties. Since Iran and all other countries in the Middle East are among Non-Annex I Parties, they are not required to submit annual GHG inventory report. However, the global climate change is a worldwide phenomenon so Middle Eastern countries should be involved and it is necessary to prepare such a report at least unofficially. In this paper the terminology and the methods to calculate GHG emissions will first be explained and then GHG emissions estimates for the Iranian power plants will be presented. Finally the results will be compared with GHG emissions from the Canadian electricity generation sector. The results for the Iranian power plants show that in 2005 greenhouse gas intensity for steam power plants, gas turbines and combined cycle power plants were 617, 773, and 462 g CO2eq/kWh, respectively with the overall intensity of 610 g CO2eq/kWh for all thermal power plants. This GHG intensity is directly depend on efficiency of power plants. Whereas, in 2004 GHG intensity for electricity generation sector in Canada for different fuels were as follows: Coal 1010, refined petroleum products 640, and natural gas 523 g CO2eq/kWh, which are comparable with same data for Iran. For average GHG intensity in the whole electricity generation sector the difference is much higher: Canada 222 vs. Iran 610g CO2eq/kWh. The reason is that in Canada a considerable portion of electricity is generated by hydro-electric and nuclear power plants in which they do not emit significant amount of GHG emissions. The average GHG intensity in electricity generation sector in Iran between 1995 and 2005 experienced 13% reduction. While in Canada at the same period of time there was 21% increase. However, the results demonstrate that still there are great potentials for GHG emissions reduction in Iran’s electricity generation sector.

Transitioning to Low Carbon Mobility

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Hopkins ◽  
James Higham
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
The World ◽  
Environmental Transformation ◽  
Context Specific

Since the turn of the 21st Century, the world has experienced unprecedented economic, political, social and environmental transformation. The ‘inconvenient truth’ of climate change is now undeniable; rising temperatures and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme events have resulted in the loss of lives, livelihoods and habitats as well as straining economies. Increasingly mobile lives are often dependent on high carbon modes of transport, representing a substantial contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the underlying cause of anthropogenic climate change. With growing demand and rising emissions, the transport sector has a critical role to play in achieving GHG emissions reductions, and stabilising the global climate. Low Carbon Mobility Transitions draws interdisciplinary insights on transport and mobilities, as a vast and complex socio-technical system. It presents 15 chapters and 6 shorter ‘case studies’ covering a diversity of themes and geographic contexts across three thematic sections: People and Place, Structures in Transition, and Innovations for Low Carbon Mobility. The three sections are highly interrelated, and with overlapping, complementing, and challenging themes. The contributions offer critical, often neglected insights into low carbon mobility transitions across the world. In doing so, Low Carbon Mobility Transitions sheds light on the place- and context-specific nature of mobility in a climate constrained world.

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