Greenhouse Gas Reduction Commitments Research Articles

Reducing Strategies for Carbon Footprint of Livestock in Izmir/Turkiye

The goal of the Paris Agreement is to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5 °C. In order to significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced as soon as possible. By signing the Paris Agreement in 2021, Turkiye has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 41% by 2030. The livestock sector, which is an important economic resource, also has a significant share in greenhouse gas emissions in Turkiye. In this study, it was analyzed the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from livestock in Izmir, the 3rd largest city of Turkiye. For this purpose, greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint resulting from livestock farming in Izmir were calculated according to the IPCC 2019 Guidelines and Tier 1 methodology. The total carbon footprint of livestock in Izmir was determined as 2826.5 thousand tons CO2eq (ttonCO2eq). These total emissions were calculated as 1492 ttonCO2eq (53%) from enteric fermentation, 1120.5 ttonCO2eq (39%) from CH4 in manure management, and 214 ttonCO2eq (8%) from N2O in manure management. Sustainable method suggestions were also studied in order to achieve Turkiye’s greenhouse gas reduction commitment. The results show that a sustainable change in manure management method, such as biogas production from manure, can reduce the carbon footprint by 30%. As a result, sustainable manure management methods, nutrition, and animal welfare should be included in agricultural policies as methods that help reduce Turkiye’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Who owns the Heat? The Scope for Geothermal Heat to Contribute to Net Zero

To meet its greenhouse gas reduction commitment to net zero by 2050, the UK will need to diversify its energy supply. A move away from fossil fuels towards other forms of energy is required. At present, around 20% of the UK’s primary energy is generated by renewable resources, with the majority of this coming from bioenergy and nuclear energy. In the residential and public sectors, the main source of emissions is from the burning of gas for heating. One possible and obvious alternative energy source is that of geothermal heat, which presently remains underutilised in the UK energy mix, with ground source heat pumps and geothermal heat combined currently accounting for just 5.2% of overall renewable energy sources. This article explores the regulatory landscape for geothermal heat in the UK, taking as its main focal point the issue of definition and ownership. It examines the implications that the lack of a clear definition of ‘heat’, as a potential resource, has for the regulatory regime in the UK. The main argument is that the failure to define ‘heat’ along the lines of other natural resources explored for energy use creates a unique regulatory dynamic. This unique dynamic has the potential to prevent the full utilisation of geothermal heat and creates the need for reform of the way in which it is regulated.

Is there a joint lever? Identifying and ranking factors that determine GHG emissions and profitability on dairy farms in Bavaria, Germany

Farms are increasingly expected to contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation actions to help governments to achieve GHG reduction commitments. In order to identify key mechanisms for GHG mitigation on farms, many studies use mass flow simulation or optimization models. However, by assuming “best practice” and not accounting for “real farm practices”, these models cannot predict variability between farms. In contrast, studies that include variability between farms can identify determinants that are important factors to reduce GHG emissions. From a farmer's perspective, it is often crucial that these mechanisms also increase farm profitability. The objectives of this article are (1) to explore factors that jointly affect GHG emissions and profitability of dairy farms and, (2) to assess if these factors cause synergies or trade-offs to simultaneously reduce GHG emissions and increase profitability. To assess variability between farms, we utilize detailed site- or farm-specific input variables for a large number of farms. To this end, we combined a detailed high quality dataset of 92 farms for the year 2013 in Bavaria, Germany. In relation to GHG emissions, we collected emission factors from national and international life cycle analysis databases, and applied national and site-specific GHG emission models. Our global sensitivity analysis identified five factors affecting GHG emissions per kg of fat and protein corrected milk in the following order of relative importance (i.e. proportion of farm variability explained): feed use efficiency (26%), weighted nitrogen balance (23%), site specific nitrogen emission factor (15%), milk yield (13%), and replacement rate (8%). Of these five factors, feed use efficiency and milk yield were also relatively important factors for profitability. However, milk yield is strongly interlinked with beef output, an important by-product of our sample dairy farms, and thus needs special attention when defining effective GHG reduction targets. Site-specific nitrogen emission factors cannot be influenced directly by farmers. This leaves three main determinants for farm variability between farms of GHG emissions i.e. on field nitrogen use efficiency, feed use efficiency and replacement rate. Since feed use efficiency was also identified as an important factor increasing profitability, this could be addressed by advisory services assessing synergies between profitability and GHG emissions. On field nitrogen use efficiency and replacement rate were not identified as an important factor affecting profitability and thus may be addressed by additional incentives for farmers, advisory service, or stricter regulations.

An investigation into UK government policy and legislation to renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction commitments

The UK has committed to various legally binding targets with regard to renewable energy technology and greenhouse gas reduction. As a result, government policy and legislation have been significant in investing in renewable energy technology, driving innovation since 1990. The aim of this work identifies the key drivers behind commitments and to assess the role of government, business and organisations in the uptake of renewable energy and the development of a decentralised energy network as a result of greenhouse gas emission reduction target. This article presents quantitative analysis of primary research from government and industry. The novel aspect of this investigation is that the conclusive outcomes arise as a result of a unique research method by combining primary and secondary sources with support of company data from Nestlé and Transport for London. The main findings demonstrated that government support is one of the key drivers for innovation into renewable technology; however, business and the public are necessary to bring renewables to market. Strategies have been identified to incorporate decentralised generation into industry for the commitment of renewables and to develop the required energy network of the future.Graphic abstract

A comprehensive review on electricity generation and GHG emission reduction potentials through anaerobic digestion of agricultural and livestock/slaughterhouse wastes in Iran

Agricultural and livestock/slaughterhouse wastes are produced in huge quantities and could be promising sources for electricity generation to partially reduce dependence on fossil-oriented electricity. In light of that, the state of the production for these wastes in different parts of the globe was first presented. Subsequently, various waste-to-energy technologies and their electricity generation feasibility from both environmental and economic perspectives were reviewed. Finally, electricity generation and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potentials through anaerobic digestion of the above-mentioned wastes generated in each province of Iran in 2016 were investigated as a case study. Accordingly, Khuzestan province with the highest amount of agro-wastes (7.61 million tons) and Sistan and Baluchestan province with the highest amount of livestock/slaughterhouse wastes (10.69 million tons) had the maximum electricity generation potentials of 82.83 MW and 164.23 MW, respectively. Moreover, the country's total potentials for electricity generation from these wastes was determined at 2848.26 MW. Based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) results, a minimum of 10,693.5 thousand tons CO2eq/yr could be avoided by valorizing these wastes into electricity in Iran. This would be translated into 1.5% reduction of Iran's annual GHG emissions; a promising achievement given Iran's international GHGs reduction commitment. Moreover, if a short-term time horizon would be considered for electricity generation from these wastes, the reduction rate could reach 24,153 thousand tons CO2eq/yr, i.e., 3.39% reduction of Iran's annual GHG emissions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report scrutinizing electricity generation potentials from both agricultural and livestock/slaughterhouse wastes in Iran while assessing the consequent GHG emission reduction potentials. The outcomes of the study could assist policy makers with decisions aimed at taking advantage of these resources while the platform introduced pave the way for other researchers to conduct similar studies in different parts of the world.

Predicting the quantifiable impacts of ISO 50001 on climate change mitigation

Energy consumption in the industrial and commercial (service) sectors accounts for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing this energy consumption will be critical for countries to achieve their national greenhouse gas reduction commitments. The ISO 50001-Energy management standard provides a continual improvement framework for organizations to reduce their consumption. Several national policies already support ISO 50001; however, there is no transparent, consistent process to estimate the potential impacts of its implementation.This paper presents the ISO 50001 Impacts Methodology, an internationally-developed methodology to calculate these impacts at a national, regional, or global scale suitable for use by policymakers. The recently-formed ISO 50001 Global Impacts Research Network provides a forum for policymakers to refine and encourage use of the methodology.Using this methodology, a scenario with 50% of projected global industrial and service sector energy consumption under ISO 50001 management by 2030 would generate cumulative primary energy savings of approximately 105 EJ, cost savings of nearly US $700 billion (discounted to 2016 net present value), and 6500 million metric tons (Mt) of avoided CO2 emissions. The avoided annual CO2 emissions in 2030 alone are equivalent to removing 210 million passenger vehicles from the road.

Equity Implications of the COP21 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The recent Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) resulted in voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction commitments by 195 countries. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the equity implications of this “bottom-up” approach to climate change negotiations in two major ways. First we analyze the GHG reduction targets specified in the COP 21 agreement prior to any emissions trading in terms of the equity metrics of the Gini Coefficient and Atkinson Index. We also match the commitments with specific equity principles, such as the Egalitarian, Ability to Pay, Vertical, and Horizontal equity. Second, we analyze the equity and economic welfare outcomes after emissions trading takes place. We adapt a non-linear programming model well suited to this purpose, which determines the equilibrium emission allowance price, mitigation costs, and allowance purchases and sales between countries from trading. We also test the sensitivity of the results to macroeconomic conditions and technological change. Our findings are that the GHG reduction commitments made at COP 21 run counter to most equity principles. They are definitely a major departure from the Egalitarian, Vertical, and Rawlsian equity principles proposed for many years by developing countries.

On the economics of Norway spruce stands and carbon storage

We combine a process-based growth model for even-aged Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) with economics and optimization. Carbon storage is subsidized based on stand growth and product decay. We include detailed optimized thinnings and timber quality features and present cost functions for stand-level CO2 storage. In contrast to earlier studies, our results suggest that changing thinning strategies and postponing thinnings are at least as important as lengthening the rotation period when considering economically efficient carbon storage. The role of thinning is most important in less fertile sites. Contrary to the generic Faustmann model, a higher interest rate increases rotation length on our fertile site. Including carbon release from decaying timber products as reductions from carbon subsidies only has minor effects on optimal solutions. The fertile site stores more discounted carbon. However, with a 1% interest rate, the less fertile site is cost-efficient up to 13 CO2 t·ha−1, and with a 3% interest rate, it is cost-efficient up to 14 CO2 t·ha−1. After these points, carbon storage on the fertile site becomes cheaper. The economic costs of carbon storage suggest that it is optimal to apply carbon storage in Norway spruce forests to meet greenhouse gas reduction commitments.

Climate Change, Regime Interaction, and the Principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility: The Experience of the International Maritime Organization

The complexity of climate change and its global nature as a problem affecting the international community necessitates a variety of measures deriving their authority from different international regimes. Acknowledging the global and complex nature of shipping activities, the Kyoto Protocol entrusted the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from marine bunker fuels to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 1 Since 1997, the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has been actively engaged in discussions concerning the reduction of GHG emissions from ships and the elaboration of a legal framework for energy efficiency in the shipping industry as a means of tackling climate change. In what was heralded as a historic decision, the MEPC adopted mandatory measures to reduce GHG emissions from ships at its sixty-second session in 2011. These measures form the first legally binding, multilateral climate change-related agreement since the Kyoto Protocol. Despite some progress in the recent MEPC and the adoption of a resolution on the promotion of technical co-operation and the transfer of technology, progress in the IMO is slow. In this framework, the European Union (EU) is considering a variety of options such as the inclusion of ships emissions in its GHG reduction commitment, the elaboration of a monitoring, reporting, and verification system based on fuel consumption, and market-based mechanisms with the view to contributing to global efforts and the IMO process. The negotiation process at the IMO for the adoption of measures to reduce GHG emissions from ships has demonstrated a number of challenges and uncertainties stemming from regime interaction between the IMO regime and the principles and institutional framework of the UN Framework Convention on

Attribution of atmospheric CO2 and temperature increases to regions: importance of preindustrial land use change

The historical contribution of each country to today’s observed atmospheric CO2 excess and higher temperatures has become a basis for discussions around burden-sharing of greenhouse gas reduction commitments in political negotiations. However, the accounting methods have considered greenhouse gas emissions only during the industrial era, neglecting the fact that land use changes (LUC) have caused emissions long before the Industrial Revolution. Here, we hypothesize that considering preindustrial LUC affects the attribution because the geographic pattern of preindustrial LUC emissions differs significantly from that of industrial-era emissions and because preindustrial emissions have legacy effects on today’s atmospheric CO2 concentrations and temperatures. We test this hypothesis by estimating CO2 and temperature increases based on carbon cycle simulations of the last millennium. We find that accounting for preindustrial LUC emissions results in a shift of attribution of global temperature increase from the industrialized countries to less industrialized countries, in particular South Asia and China, by up to 2–3%, a level that may be relevant for political discussions. While further studies are needed to span the range of plausible quantifications, our study demonstrates the importance of including preindustrial emissions for the most scientifically defensible attribution.

Regulatory and technology lead-time: The case of US automobile greenhouse gas emission standards

The automobile industry and regulatory agencies around the world are coping with the uncertainties of regulatory lead-time and technology deployment for increased vehicle efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The regulation of GHG emissions in the US, with adoption of 2016 standards and ongoing work toward 2025 standards, provides a rich case study to assess questions about the appropriate amount of lead-time to promote sustained long-term investment in vehicle efficiency technology. This analysis examines the milestones, phase-in, lead-time, investments, technology diffusion, and GHG emission progress-to-date toward 2016 standards in the US. The findings suggest that the 2016 rulemaking process establishes a strong model for regulatory lead-time, allowing for ample time for industry to make the necessary investments to meet their GHG reduction commitments by 2016. The 2025 rulemaking continues this strong precedent for extended regulatory lead-time and has led to near unanimous automaker support. The 13-year lead-time for 2025 standards is appropriate to help reduce technology investment risk and sustain long-term capital investments, and it is especially fitting for the difficult task of launching advanced electric-drive technologies for deep long-term GHG emission cuts.

Clean Development Mechanism Cooperation in China

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is an arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol allowing developed countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries. In terms of the CDM areas, there are huge potential commercial opportunities between China and the United Kingdom since China signed the Kyoto Protocol.

Climate Change and Agriculture: The Policy Challenge for the 21st Century? Changement climatique et agriculture : le défi du 21ème siècle pour l’action publique? Klimawandel und Landwirtschaft: Die politische Herausforderung für das 21. Jahrhundert?

SummaryClimate Change and Agriculture: The Policy Challenge for the 21st Century?Climate change will have significant impacts on agriculture. Farmers and the agri‐food supply chain will have to adapt, while at the same time providing food for a growing population. Agriculture can be expected to contribute to meeting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, although the sector did not figure significantly at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. The ongoing or expected international climate change, food security and trade commitments present both challenges and opportunities for the agri‐food sector, as agriculture is one of the few sectors that can contribute to both mitigation and sequestration of carbon emissions. Accounting for agriculture’s carbon footprint is a key issue given the possibility of including agriculture in greenhouse gas reduction commitments. However, the range and variability of estimates, and the complexity and uncertainty of accounting for indirect land use change remain to be resolved. Policies will play a role in enhancing the ability of agriculture to adapt to climate change, in reducing greenhouse gases, while contributing to other environmental goals. There is an urgent need to consider whether an international agreement would be the channel to enable appropriate national policy actions to be taken in the context of a global framework to reduce emissions from agriculture in the most efficient and least‐cost manner.

University leadership in island climate change mitigation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the University of Hawaii at Manoa's (UHM's) initiatives in achieving greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions on campus and at the state level.Design/methodology/approachUHM has taken a “lead by example” approach to climate change mitigation in terms of working to meet the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, becoming a founding member of The Climate Registry, and providing university leadership in crafting the policy to meet Hawaii's Climate Change Solutions Act of 2007.FindingsUniversities are uniquely poised to play a role in not only climate change research, education, and community outreach, but also in the regional and national policy‐making arena. In the absence of federal legislation, states are paving the way to create binding US GHG reduction commitments – making crafting innovative and appropriate policy all the more important and meaningful at the state and regional levels.Practical implicationsThe paper discusses the multi‐prong approach UHM is taking in addressing the threats of climate change: from on‐campus GHG measurements and reductions to helping guide overarching state policy.Originality/valueIslands are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. UHM has taken a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, from forming strategic partnerships with the electric utility, to developing campus and state GHG reduction strategies, to helping mobilize planning for impacts like sea‐level rise. This paper presents the efforts of UHM, including faculty, student and administration‐led projects, specifically illustrating the role of Universities in meeting GHG reduction commitments through a “lead by example” approach at both the university and state levels.

Joint implementation: methodology and policy considerations

The focus of the present paper is on joint implementation (JI) projects between countries in Western and Eastern Europe and especially on the problems of constructing credible references (baselines). A number of the present EU countries are anticipated to have severe problems in meeting their greenhouse gas reduction commitments and they have already announced that they shall take advantage of JI in this connection. As stated in the Kyoto Protocol, JI emission reductions must be real and measurable. However, in most cases the reductions obtained by a JI project do not occur at the project site but elsewhere in the energy system. Therefore, when a number of JI projects are implemented concurrently and other changes in the energy system take place over time, there is no way to measure the reductions obtained by individual projects. Because the emission reduction obtained is a property of the entire energy system, it cannot be estimated a priori on the basis of a project baseline alone. A baseline must refer to the national energy system of which the project is a part. It is argued in this paper that baselines should be derived from national energy systems databases and models, which serve to ensure that JI projects effectively contribute to the fulfillment of the Kyoto Protocol objectives. In addition, they should provide governments with comprehensive energy information systems needed to address long-term climate mitigation and energy demand and supply issues in a rational, least-cost manner. Compared to other climate mitigation costs and the costs of failure to meet the Kyoto commitments the costs involved in the preparation of the databases needed and the implementation of systems analysis and documentation programs will be small. If these costs are carried by national governments, the investors in JI projects will benefit from lower transaction costs.

Canadian greenhouse gas mitigation options in agriculture

In 1991, on farm management practices contributed 57.6 Tg CO2 equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions, that is, about 10% of the anthropogenic GHG emissions in Canada. Approximately 11% of these emissions were in the form of CO2, 36% in the form of CH4 and 53% in the form of N2O. The CO2 emissions were from soils; CH4 emissions were from enteric fermentation and manure, and N2O emissions were primarily a function of cropping practices and manure management. With the emissions from all other agricultural practices included, such as the emissions from fossil fuels used for transportation, manufacturing, food processing etc., the agricultural sector's contributions were about 15% of Canada's emissions. In this publication, several options are examined as to their potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These involve soil and crop management, soil nutrient management, improved feeding strategies, and carbon storage in industrial by-products. The Canadian Economic Emissions Model for Agriculture (CEEMA) was used to predict the greenhouse gas emissions for the year 2010, as well as the impact of mitigation options on greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector. This model incorporates the Canadian Regional Agricultural sub-Model (CRAM), which predicts the activities related to agriculture in Canada up to 2010, as well as a Greenhouse Gas Emissions sub-Model (GGEM), which estimates the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the various agricultural activities. The greenhouse gas emissions from all agricultural sources were 90.5 Tg CO2 equivalent in 1991. Estimates based on CEEMA for the year 2010 indicate emissions are expected to be 98.0 Tg CO2 equivalent under a business as usual scenario, which assumes that the present trends in management practices will continue. The agricultural sector will then need to reduce its emissions by about 12.9 Tg CO2 equivalent below 2010 forecasted emissions, if it is to attain its part of the Canadian government commitment made in Kyoto. Technologies focusing on increasing the soil carbon sink, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the overall farming efficiency, need to be refined and developed as best management practices. The soils carbon sink can be increased through reduced tillage, reduced summer fallowing, increased use of grasslands and forage crops, etc. Key areas for the possible reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are improved soil nutrient management, improved manure storage and handling, better livestock grazing and feeding strategies, etc. The overall impact of these options is dependent on the adoption rate. Agriculture's greenhouse gas reduction commitment could probably be met if soils are recognized as a carbon sink under the Kyoto Accord and if a wide range of management practices are adopted on a large scale. None of these options can currently be recommended as measures because their socio-economic aspects have not been fully evaluated and there are still too many uncertainties in the emission estimates.

Socioeconomic Transition and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions from Bulgaria

Will Bulgaria's transition from communism to a more democratic, market-based economy result in increased or decreased greenhouse-gas emissions? With conflicting factors simultaneously adding to and subtracting from this country's emissions, present-day political and economic crises, plus changes in the energy-production, manufacturing, transportation, domestic energy-consumption, and construction sectors suggest that although greenhousegas emissions are below their communist-era peak, they are on the increase. Future emissions may be higher still, making it difficult for Bulgaria to meet its greenhouse-gas reduction commitments.