Refining national greenhouse gas inventories

Abstract

The importance of greenhouse gas inventories cannot be overstated: the process of producing inventories informs strategies that governments will use to meet emissions reduction targets. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) leads an effort to develop and refine internationally agreed upon methodologies for calculating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and removals. We argue that these guidelines are not equipped to handle the task of developing national greenhouse gas inventories for most countries. Inventory guidelines are vital to implementing climate action, and we highlight opportunities to improve their timeliness and accuracy. Such reforms should provide the means to better understand and advance the progress countries are making toward their Paris commitments. Now is the time to consider challenges posed by the current process to develop the guidelines, and to avail the policy community of recent major advances in quantitative and expert synthesis to overhaul the process and thereby better equip multinational efforts to limit climate change. Keywords Climate change Á Forest soil carbon Á Global carbon cycle Á Greenhouse gas emissions inventories Á Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Á United Nations Paris Agreement

Addressing uncertainty and bias in land use, land use change, and forestry greenhouse gas inventories

“…As Brazil indicated in their Third National Communication (2016), "Quantifying uncertainty for individual data items is as or more difficult to assess as the actual information sought." Countries are likely to prioritize improvements in LULUCF accuracy by increasing the use of Tier 3 methods and updating Tier 1 and 2 methods with the most recent science (Yona et al 2020). However, investments in uncertainty estimation and transparency will also be required as more complex methods are adopted.…”

Can arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi speed up carbon sequestration by enhanced weathering?

“…We here argue that explicit consideration of the biota involved in the weathering process, among which AM fungi are key players, will be essential to understand the drivers of weathering rates in the field and to maximize climate gains from this technique. In line with recent calls (e.g., Yona et al., 2020), aside from calculating theoretical weathering rates, greenhouse gas fluxes and in situ weathering should be followed‐up to determine the true effects of the implementation of mitigating practices. In field and lab settings, research is now needed to measure the response of AM fungi and weathering rates to high quantities of silicates, and especially their co‐dependence on soil characteristics and agricultural practices such as fertilization and tillage.…”

“…In line with recent calls (e.g., Yona et al, 2020), aside from calculating theoretical weathering rates, greenhouse gas fluxes and in situ weathering should be followed-up to determine the true effects of the implementation of mitigating practices. In field and lab settings, research is now needed to measure the response of AM fungi and weathering rates to high quantities of silicates, and especially their co-dependence on soil characteristics and agricultural practices such as fertilization and tillage.…”

Shared Responsibility for Carbon Emission Based on Embodied Carbon Emission in China-US Trade

“…Conference on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997, which requires developed countries to establish a greenhouse gas emission inventory (Yona et al, 2020). For countries in Annex I of the Kyoto Protocol, there is a need to reduce carbon emissions by 5 per cent relative to 1995.…”