Emissions
of nitrogen oxides (NOx)
CC-5
Climate
Change
Pressure
1 Indicator
definition and unit of measurement
Total
anthropogenic nitrogen oxides (NO
x)
emissions from the sectors energy, industrial processes, solvent and other
product use, agriculture, land use change and forestry, and waste (as defined
by the IPCC
[13]).
Natural emissions are not accounted for in this indicator. The unit of
measurement is tonnes NO
x
per year.
2 Placement
in the framework
5EAP:
Chapter
5: The themes and targets of the programme, section 5.1: Climate change and
section 5.2: Acidification and air quality.
Agenda
21:
Chapter
9: Protection of the atmosphere, section 2: Conservation and management of
resources for development.
International
conventions and agreements:
The
UNFCCC (New York, 1992).
The
UNECE LRTAP (Geneva, 1979) and its protocol on nitrogen oxides (Sofia, 1988).
Ranking:
Core
ranking:
5
(31%)
Policy
Relevance:
6
(2.8)
Analytical
Soundness:
8
(2.7)
Responsiveness:
7
(2.7)
Most
appropriate related state indicator:
Tropospheric
ozone concentrations, global temperature.
3 Significance
Purpose:
NOx
is not a direct greenhouse gas, but it increases the formation of tropospheric
ozone and contributes thus indirectly to radiative forcing. The main purpose of
this indicator is to monitor total anthropogenic NO
x
emissions.
Relevance:
The
quantification of the Global Warming Potential for NO
x
is not yet possible, since not all atmospheric processes are well understood.
See
also 3. Relevance of the Methodology sheet for CO
2.
Linkages
to other pressure indicators:
The
indicator is linked to the indicators of other greenhouse gases. Furthermore,
the indicator is linked with those in the policy fields of Ozone Depletion, Air
Pollution and Urban Environmental Problems. See the corresponding methodology
sheets (OD-5, AP-1, UP-9).
Targets:
EU
targets are the stabilisation of NO
x
emissions in 1994 (at 1990 levels) and a 30% reduction in 2000 as compared with
1990.
4 Methodological
description and underlying definitions
Underlying
definitions and concepts:
The
main source of NO
x
is anthropogenic and is related to the combustion of fossil fuels. Cleaner
technologies can significantly reduce emissions.
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:
The
Global Warming Potential for the indirect effects of NO
x
is not yet quantified. Therefore, the definition of a weighting factor to add
this indicator to the other climate change indicators will be difficult.
Alternative
definitions:
None.
[13]
Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change
