Emissions
of carbon dioxide (CO2)
CC-1
Climate
Change
Pressure
1 Indicator
definition and unit of measurement
Total
anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO
2)
emissions from the sectors energy, industrial processes, solvent and other
product use, agriculture, land use change and forestry, and waste (as defined
by IPCC
[1]).
Since CO
2
removals are also accounted for, this indicator concerns
net
emissions. Natural emissions are not accounted for. The unit of measurement is
tonnes CO
2
per year.
2 Placement
in the framework
5EAP:
Chapter
5: The themes and targets of the programme, section 5.1: Climate change.
Agenda
21:
Chapter
9: Protection of the atmosphere, section 2: Conservation and management of
resources for development.
International
conventions and agreements:
UNFCCC
(New York, 1992).
Ranking:
Core
ranking:
1
(100%)
Policy
Relevance:
1
(3.4)
Analytical
Soundness:
1
(3.6)
Responsiveness:
6
(2.7)
Most
appropriate related state indicators:
Atmospheric
CO
2
concentrations; global temperature.
3 Significance
Purpose:
CO2
is the most important greenhouse gas. The main purpose of this indicator is to
monitor total anthropogenic
net
CO2
emissions.
Relevance:
The
scientific community acknowledges that atmospheric concentrations of CO
2
have continued to increase, and that “the balance of evidence suggests a
discernible human influence on global climate”
[2].
Future climate change is expected to have major impacts on e.g. agriculture,
water resources, ecosystems and human health.
Linkages
to other pressure indicators:
The
indicator is linked to the indicators of other greenhouse gases. Furthermore,
the indicator is linked to those in the area of Ozone Depletion. Ozone is a
greenhouse gas, and therefore changes in stratospheric ozone should be
considered in assessing climate change. Moreover, greenhouse gases are believed
to affect stratospheric ozone depletion. These effects include both positive
and negative effects. See the methodology sheet for CO
2
in the Ozone Depletion section (OD-4).
Targets:
The
current target of the UNFCCC for CO
2
and other greenhouse gas emissions, applicable for the industrialised
countries, is to aim at returning emissions to 1990 levels in the year 2000.
The European Union adopted the target to reduce CO
2
emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. Current commitments of EU Member
States add up to a 10% reduction of CO
2,
CH
4
and N
2O
emissions
[3]
by 2010 (reference year 1990).
4 Methodological
description and underlying definitions
Underlying
definitions and concepts:
The
main source of CO
2
emissions is fossil fuel combustion. Emissions are directly related to the
relative share of fossil fuels in total energy consumption, the energy
intensity of an economy and the GDP of a country.
Measurement
methods:
The
1996 “Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories” have been
formally adopted by the IPCC as the international method to estimate emissions.
Limitations
of the indicator:
None.
Data is available in standardised formats and using internationally agreed
methodologies. The allocation of emissions from international ships and
aircrafts has however not yet been decided, although countries are obliged to
estimate these emissions.
Alternative
definitions:
An
aggregated indicator for CO
2,
CH
4,
and N
2O
emissions based on their Global Warming Potential; separate indicators for CO
2
emissions and CO
2
removals.
[1]
Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change
[2]
IPCC
1996. The Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change. Summary for Policy Makers.
[3]
Weighted
total, using Global Warming Potentials with a 100 year time-horizon.
