Removals
of carbon dioxide (CO2)
CC-8
Climate
Change
Pressure
1 Indicator
definition and unit of measurement
Total
removals of CO
2
by anthropogenic sinks. 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:
8
(16%)
Policy
Relevance:
10
(2.8)
Analytical
Soundness:
7
(2.8)
Responsiveness:
12
(2.4)
Most
appropriate related state indicators:
CO2
concentrations, global temperature.
3 Significance
Purpose:
CO2
is the most important greenhouse gas. By reforestation and afforestation,
carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored in trees. The main purpose of
this indicator is to monitor total CO
2
removals by anthropogenic sinks.
Relevance:
At
the global level, deforestation and changes in land use are net sources of
carbon dioxide. In only a few countries, the forestry sector acts as a carbon
sink. As CO
2
removals are already accounted for in the indicator CO
2
emissions, the relevance of this indicator is limited. See also the methodology
sheet for CO
2
emissions (CC-1).
Linkages
to other pressure indicators:
CO2
removals are taken into account in the indicator CO
2
emissions, since this indicator concerns
net
emissions. Furthermore, the indicator is linked to those in the area of Ozone
Depletion.
See
the methodology sheet for CO
2
emissions (CC-1).
Targets:
No
targets exist for CO
2
removals. For emission targets, see the methodology sheet for CO
2
emissions (CC-1).
4 Methodological
description and underlying definitions
Underlying
definitions and concepts:
Only
growing forests act as a carbon sink. Forests in equilibrium act as a carbon
reservoir.
Measurement
methods:
The
1996 “Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories” have been
formally adopted by the IPCC as the international method to estimate emissions
and removals of CO
2.
Limitations
of the indicator:
See
3. Relevance. No additional limitations.
Alternative
definitions:
Only
one indicator for
net
CO
2
emissions.
