Greenhouse gases

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2 IPCC EMISSIONS SCENARIOS 2.1 Emissions scenario families 2.2 SRES and climate change 2.3 Impacts on global agricultural production 2.4 Impact on forestry 2.5 Projected changes for New Zealand's pasture production 2.6 Summary of climate change impacts CHAPTER 3 CURRENTLY AVAILABLE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES 3.1 Mitigation of gases 3.2 Methane capture 3.3 Sequestration CHAPTER 4 CONSUMER RESPONSES 4.1 Environmental impacts 4.2 Willingness to pay 4.3 Consumer variables and preferences 4.4 Supply chain issues 4.

Many studies have solely focused on the negative impact of the coronavirus while ignoring the fact that the coronavirus was also a blessing in disguise to certain institutions. This study focuses on an exploration of some of the environmental-related benefits accruing from the outbreak of the coronavirus, which eventually led many countries of the world to declare a national lockdown. The study utilised secondary sources from 21 articles gleaned from hand-searched literature from various web pages and online news, accessed through google web page (google.com) between March to September 2020. Key search words used in the search were COVID-19 and the environment, benefits of COVID-19 to the environment, the environmental impact of COVID-19, and the environmental behaviour during COVID-19. The study reported that some positive benefits of COVID-19 concerning the environment from China, the United States of America, Europe, and Africa. Findings from the review indicated that almost all ...

Anthropogenically-derived increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations have been implicated in recent climate change, and are projected to substantially impact the climate on a global scale in the future. For marine and freshwater systems, increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are expected to increase surface temperatures, lower pH, and cause changes to vertical mixing, upwelling, precipitation, and evaporation patterns. The potential consequences of these changes for harmful algal blooms (HABs) have received relatively little attention and are not well understood. Given the apparent increase in HABs around the world and the potential for greater problems as a result of climate change and ocean acidification, substantial research is needed to evaluate the direct and indirect associations between HABs, climate change, ocean acidification, and human health. This research will require a multidisciplinary approach utilizing expertise in climatology, oceanography, biology, epidemiology, and other disciplines. We review the interactions between selected patterns of large-scale climate variability and climate change, oceanic conditions, and harmful algae.

Significant recent attention has been given to quantifying the environmental impacts of international trade. However, the United States, despite being the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases and having large recent growth in international trade, has seen little analysis. This work uses a multi-country input-output model of the US and its seven largest trading partners (Canada, China, Mexico, Japan, Germany, the UK, and Korea) to analyze the environmental effects of changes to US trade structure and volume from 1997 to 2004. ...

Production of methane and carbon dioxide as well as methane concentrations in surface waters and emissions to the atmosphere were investigated in two flow-through lake complexes (Uzlina–Isac and Puiu–Rosu–Rosulet) in the Danube Delta during post-flood conditions in May and low water level in September 2006. Retained nutrients fuelled primary production and remineralisation of bioavailable organic matter. This led to an observable net release of methane, particularly in the lakes Uzlina, Puiu and Rosu in May. Input from the Danube River, from redbuds and benthic release contributed to CH4 concentrations in surface waters. In addition to significant river input of CO2, this trace gas was released via aerobic remineralisation within the water column and in top sediments. Emission patterns of CO2 widely overlapped with those of CH4. Generally, greenhouse gas emissions peaked in the lake complex adjacent to the Danube River in May due to strong winds and decreased with increasing hydrological distance from the Danube River. Intense remineralisation of organic matter in the Danube Delta lakes results in a net source of atmospheric greenhouse gases.

Use of solar energy is of great importance in reducing greenhouse gases emission. Although there are some advances in solo solar power systems, the efficiencies and costs of these systems are not so attractive. This paper presents a new approach for solar power utilization, i.e. using solar heat to replace the extracted steam to heat the feedwater in the regenerative Rankine plant. The exergy merit index EMI (the ratio of the work generated by the saved steam to the exergy supplied by the solar heat) of such solar-aided systems can be greater than 100% while the maximum exergy efficiencies of the solo solar power systems can never reach 100%. The analysis of a three-stage regenerative Rankine plant shows that, by using solar energy, the work generated can be increased up to 30% while the EMI reaches 101.28%. Therefore low-grade heat and other waste heat can be utilized as a valuable source of work in this way. The “aided” concept has special meaning for solar power utilization. In summer, both the solar radiation and the electrical load demand reach their peaks. The increased solar radiation can generate increased power to meet the increased power demand. In addition, the solar aided system can also eliminate the variability in power output in solo solar power systems.

This paper discusses what is known about the life-cycle burdens of lithium ion batteries. Constituent-material production and the subsequent manufacturing of batteries are emphasized. Of particular interest is estimation of the impact of battery material recycling on battery manufacturing. Because some materials come from comparatively less plentiful resources, the recycling of lithium ion batteries and the potential impact on battery-production life-cycle burdens are discussed. This effort represents the early stage of lithium ion battery life-cycle analysis, in which processes are characterized preparatory to detailed data acquisition. Notwithstanding the lack of data on production of battery materials, it is estimated that the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with battery manufacturing make up only a small percentage of a plug-in hybrid vehicle's total life-cycle energy use. Further, the recycling of battery materials potentially can significantly reduce the...

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), also known as oceanic "dead zones", are widespread oceanographic features currently expanding due to global warming and coastal eutrophication. Although inhospitable to metazoan life, OMZs support a thriving but cryptic microbiota whose combined metabolic activity is intimately connected to nutrient and trace gas cycling within the global ocean. Here we report time-resolved metagenomic analyses of a ubiquitous and abundant but uncultivated OMZ microbe (SUP05) closely related to chemoautotrophic gill symbionts of deep-sea clams and mussels. The SUP05 metagenome harbors a versatile repertoire of genes mediating autotrophic carbon assimilation, sulfur-oxidation and nitrate respiration responsive to a wide range of water column redox states. Thus, SUP05 plays integral roles in shaping nutrient and energy flow within oxygen-deficient oceanic waters via carbon sequestration, sulfide detoxification and biological nitrogen loss with important implications for marine productivity and atmospheric greenhouse control.

This paper presents 5 km×5 km Arctic emissions inventories of important greenhouse gases, black carbon and other pollutants under existing and future (2050) scenarios that account for growth of shipping in the region, potential diversion traffic through emerging routes, and possible emissions control measures. These high-resolution, geospatial emissions inventories for shipping can be used to evaluate Arctic climate sensitivity to black carbon (a short-lived climate forcing pollutant especially effective in accelerating the melting of ice and snow), aerosols, and gaseous emissions including carbon dioxide. We quantify ship emissions scenarios which are expected to increase as declining sea ice coverage due to climate change allows for increased shipping activity in the Arctic. A first-order calculation of global warming potential due to 2030 emissions in the highgrowth scenario suggests that short-lived forcing of ∼4.5 gigagrams of black carbon from Arctic shipping may increase global warming potential due to Arctic ships' CO 2 emissions (∼42 000 gigagrams) by some 17% to 78%. The paper also presents maximum feasible reduction scenarios for black carbon in particular. These emissions reduction scenarios will enable scientists and policymakers to evaluate the efficacy and benefits of technological controls for black carbon, and other pollutants from ships.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated that stabilizing atmospheric CO 2 concentrations will require reduction of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by as much as 80% by 2050. Subnational efforts to cut emissions will inform policy development nationally and globally. We projected GHG mitigation strategies for Minnesota, which has adopted a strategic goal of 80% emissions reduction by 2050. A portfolio of conservation strategies, including electricity conservation, increased vehicle fleet fuel efficiency, and reduced vehicle miles traveled, is likely the most cost-effective option for Minnesota and could reduce emissions by 18% below 2005 levels. An 80% GHG reduction would require complete decarbonization of the electricity and transportation sectors, combined with carbon capture and sequestration at power plants, or deep cuts in other relatively more intransigent GHGemitting sectors. In order to achieve ambitious GHG reduction goals, policymakers should promote aggressive conservation efforts, which would probably have negative net costs, while phasing in alternative fuels to replace coal and motor gasoline over the long-term.

Scientists and policymakers intend worldwide emissions reduction of up to 80 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the next four decades to stabilize atmospheric concentrations (TRB 2011). Henceforth, an immediate response from the transportation sector, one of the largest producers of GHGs (up to 30 percent in the U.S.), is critical for GHGs reduction. Possible long-term solutions towards cutting back on emissions from transportation are increasing supply-of/demand-for more energy/fuel efficient vehicles and to substantially improve the transit system (high-speed rail, passenger rail, metro) to reduce reliance on private vehicles and air travel for short trips. However, the markets are still struggling to produce supply-of/demand-for energy efficient vehicles and public debate on potential ridership of high speed rail is ongoing in the U.S. Another feasible strategy that can prove to be effective is emission pricing. Recent advancement in Intelligent ...

This paper discusses both occupational health risks to workers and environmental health risks to residents and workers. The report presents an overview of the available health literature for causes of diseases, injuries, and accidents from solid waste management collection, treatment, and disposal technologies. Illnesses discussed include infectious diseases, allergies, respiratory damage, and cancers. Some diseases are derived from direct ingestion of infectious micro-organisms, others involve infection through contamination of the food chain, whereby animals or other vectors have ingested infectious micro-organisms. Injuries include joint and spinal damage, fractures, puncture wounds, damage to eyes and ears. Accidents include slides from unstable disposal piles, cave-ins of disposal site surfaces, fires, explosions, being caught in processing equipment, and being run over by mobile equipment. As the next steps toward improving occupational and environmental health and safety in s...

Delhi is the most densely populated and urbanized city of India. The annual growth rate in population during the last decade (1991-2001) was 3.85%, almost double the national average. Delhi is also a commercial hub, providing employment opportunities and accelerating the pace of urbanization, resulting in a corresponding increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. Presently the inhabitants of Delhi generate about 7000 tonnes/day of MSW, which is projected to rise to 17,000-25,000 tonnes/day by the year 2021. MSW management has remained one of the most neglected areas of the municipal system in Delhi. About 70-80% of generated MSW is collected and the rest remains unattended on streets or in small open dumps. Only 9% of the collected MSW is treated through composting, the only treatment option, and rest is disposed in uncontrolled open landfills at the outskirts of the city. The existing composting plants are unable to operate to their intended treatment capacity due to several operational problems. Therefore, along with residue from the composting process, the majority of MSW is disposed in landfills. In absence of leachate and landfill gas collection systems, these landfills are a major source of groundwater contamination and air pollution (including generation of greenhouse gases). This study describes and evaluates the present state of municipal solid waste management in Delhi. The paper also summarizes the proposed policies and initiatives of the Government of Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to improve the existing MSW management system.

An aspect of global change currently not well understood is how processes operating on spatial scales finer than those used in recent global circulation models (GCMs) contribute to changes in atmospheric composition and the subsequent changes in climate. We use the "IPAT" formulation as a framework to test relationships among social driving forces and user group greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in northwestern North Carolina. Using regression, correlation, and bivariate mapping to examine relationships between a suite of socioeconomic variables and GHG emissions for the residential, commercial/industrial, and agricultural end-user categories, we find that various measures of population and affluence serve equally well as explanatory variables.

China is the world's most populous country and a major emitter of greenhouse gases. Consequently, much research has focused on China's influence on climate change but somewhat less has been written about the impact of climate change on China. China experienced explosive economic growth in recent decades, but with only 7% of the world's arable land available to feed 22% of the world's population, China's economy may be vulnerable to climate change itself. We find, however, that notwithstanding the clear warming that has occurred in China in recent decades, current understanding does not allow a clear assessment of the impact of anthropogenic climate change on China's water resources and agriculture and therefore China's ability to feed its people. To reach a more definitive conclusion, future work must improve regional climate simulationsespecially of precipitation-and develop a better understanding of the managed and unmanaged responses of crops to changes in climate, diseases, pests and atmospheric constituents.

... In addition, waste glass seemed to positively contribute to the mortar micro-structural properties resulting in an evident improvement of its mechanical performance [Corinaldesi et al. 2005a]. Mixed colored glass can be utilized in flowable self-compacting slurry or concrete [Naik ...

In recent decades, climate change has been accelerated by anthropogenic activity and became a currently issue on global discussion. Due to the importance that Brazil has a global supplier of food, this article aims to verify the representativeness of the emissions in the Brazilian agribusiness and the different roles to be played in agriculture to reduce GHG emissions. As methodological approach, a literature review was realized based from 124 articles related to the keywords “climate change” and “agribussiness” in the database. Firstly, we analyses the history of international meetings on climate change, as the Meadows Report (1968), Brundtland Report (1987), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1988), the United Nations Framework Convention (1992), the Kyoto Protocol (1997), the Stern Report (2006) and Report GHF (2009). The situation created the need for targets to reduce GHG emissions for major world economies, as in the case of Brazil, where it is almost impossible to exc...

Background, aim, and scope Algae biomass has great promise as a sustainable alternative to conventional transportation fuels. In this study, a well-to-pump life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to investigate the overall sustainability and net energy balance of an algal biodiesel process. The goal of this LCA was to provide baseline information for the algae biodiesel process. Materials and methods The functional unit was 1,000 MJ of energy from algal biodiesel using existing technology. Systematic boundary identification was performed using relative mass, energy, and economic value method using a 5% cutoff value. Primary data for this study were obtained from The USLCI database and the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation model. Carbohydrates in coproducts from algae biodiesel production were assumed to displace corn as a feedstock for ethanol production.

Methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) are the two most important non-carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) greenhouse gases (GHGs) that play a critical role in shaping the global climate. Their concentrations in the atmosphere have been significantly increased by human activities. CH 4 has contributed to an estimated 18–20% of post-industrial anthropogenic global warming and is 25 times more effective in absorbing radiation that atmospheric CO 2 . Its production and consumption in soils is affected by numerous factors including water table depth. Nitrous oxide is one of the key ozone (O 3 ) depleting gases, constituting 7% of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect. On a molecular basis, N 2 O has 298 and 16 times higher global warming potential than that of CO 2 and CH 4 respectively over a 100-year period. Nitrous oxide is produced in soils by denitrification and nitrification processes. It is affected by many physical and biochemical factors such aeration/moisture status of the soil.

Methanogenesis provides a means of H 2 disposal and a mechanism to maintain low partial H 2 pressure in the rumen, a prerequisite for efficient ruminal fermentation. As methanogens possess stringent requirements for cultivation, only a few species have been successfully isolated from the rumen and cultured. Culture independent molecular based approaches have provided new insight into the diversity, prevalence and role of methanogens within the overall rumen microbial community. In addition, recent developments in next generation sequencing technology have enabled the ruminal microbial community to be investigated at a metagenomic level, providing information to explore the structure, function and metabolic diversity of microbial communities. This review summarizes existing molecular technologies utilized in studies of ruminal methanogens by outlining their advantages and limitations, and introduces future applications of next generation sequencing approaches for studying the ecology of ruminal methanogens. These approaches could provide new understanding of the mechanisms of methanogenesis, as well as interactions of methanogens with other members of the rumen microbial community. An understanding of the fundamental role of methanogens in ruminal CH 4 production would provide insight into methods of curtailing emissions of this greenhouse gas from ruminants.

Buildings impact the environment in many ways as a result of both their energy use and material consumption. In urban areas, the emission of greenhouse gases and the creation of microclimates are among their most prominent impacts so the adoption of building design strategies and materials that address both these issues will lead to significant reductions in a building's overall environmental impact. This report documents the energy savings and surface temperature reduction achieved by replacing an existing commercial building's flat roof with a more reflective 'cool roof' surface material. The research methodology gathered data on-site (surface temperatures and reflectivity) and used this in conjunction with the as-built drawings to construct a building energy simulation model. A 20-year cost benefit analysis (CBA) was conducted to determine the return on investment (ROI) for the new cool roof construction based on the energy simulation results. The results of the EnergyPlusÔ simulation modeling revealed that reductions of 1.3-1.9% and 2.6-3.8% of the total monthly electricity consumption can be achieved from the 50% cool roof replacement already implemented and a future 100% roof replacement, respectively.

The gaming and hospitality sector has been expanding rapidly in recent years. Concurrently energy consumption in this sector has surged significantly. This paper reviews the literature on the relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth and introduces the 4-parameter logistic functions to model the growth of electricity consumption and other related parameters in the world's gaming centereMacao, China. The accuracy of the growth models were assessed by using the mean absolute percentage error and the root mean squared percentage error. The paper also introduces the application of life cycle analysis to greenhouse gases emissions for electricity consumption. As Macao in recent years has imported a significant amount of electricity from a coal-fired power plant in its nearby area e Zhuhai, the impact analysis included greenhouse gases emissions from the extraction, transportation, processing, and combustion along fuel life cycles in the local power plant as well as Zhuhai's power plant. We found that the emissions associated with the imported electricity contributed greatly to total emissions.

The development of urbanization is accelerating in China, and there are great pressures and opportunities in cities to reduce carbon emissions. An emissions inventory is a basic requirement for analyzing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), their potential reduction and to realize low-carbon development of cities. This study describes a method to establish a GHGs emissions inventory in Chinese cities for 6 emission sources including industrial energy consumption, transportation, household energy consumption, commercial energy consumption, industrial processes and waste. Nanjing city was selected as a representative case to analyze the characteristics of carbon emissions in Chinese cities. The results show that carbon emissions in Nanjing have increased nearly 50% during the last decade. The three largest GHGs contributors were industrial energy consumption, industrial processes and transportation, which contributed 37-44%, 35-40% and 6-10%, respectively, to the total GHGs emissions. Per GDP carbon emissions decreased by 55% from 2002 to 2009, and the per capita and per GDP carbon emissions were comparable or even lower than the world average levels. These results have important policy implications for Chinese cities to control their carbon emissions.

Construction operations have a tremendous impact upon both the environment and public health due to the generation of significant amounts of airborne emissions, including greenhouse gases and other traditional criteria air pollutants. Quantifying emissions in the pre-planning phase of construction operations is the first step in identifying mitigation opportunities. The authors therefore have quantified construction emissions produced by various types of construction operations through the use of discrete-event simulation (DES). The paper focuses upon the utilization of DES in various case studies and delineates the lessons learned. An overview of each case project is provided, the benefits and limitations of DES are identified, and means to mitigate these limitations are discussed. The lessons learned from the case studies utilized in the paper are helpful; simulation practitioners and researchers can exploit these studies in simulation models that examine the environmental aspects of construction operations. 3170 978-1-4244-9864-2/10/$26.00 ©2010 IEEE

This research evaluated the amount of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions from wastewater of the central wastewater treatment system at Mahidol University, Salaya campus, during the in years 2009-2012 by comparing two treatment systems: an oxidation pond and an extended aeration activated sludge. Researchers used the equation from the guidelines of the clean development mechanism (CDM) compares with the equation from carbon footprint for organizations (CPO). In addition, this research also studied the potential of biogas production to estimate the amount of GHGs that can be reduced when biogas technology is applied. The result showed that the oxidation pond caused more methane emission than the extended aeration activated sludge system. GHGs emissions from wastewater using CDM method were lower than the one used by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: . This difference was due to IPCC method guidelines including the calculation of nitrous oxide emissions, which has a global warming potential (GWP) several times higher than CH 4 . Furthermore, concerning the potential to produce biogas from, wastewater from the aeration pond caused the maximum release of methane, while wastewater before entering to system caused minimal emissions due to the decomposition of organic substances occurring in a short time.

... Electricity Companies (REC's), 28 generation management companies, 42 distribution companies,Iran's Electricity Development Company, Iran's New Energies Organization (SANA), Iran's Energy Efficiency Organization (SABA), Iran's Power Plant Projects Management ...

Anthropogenic greenhouse gases are expected to induce changes in global climate that can alter ecosystems in ways that, in turn, may further affect climate. Such climate-ecosystem interactions can generate either positive or negative feedbacks to the climate system, thereby either enhancing or diminishing the magnitude of global climate change. Important terrestrial feedback mechanisms include CO 2 fertilization (negative feedbacks), carbon storage in vegetation and soils (positive and negative feedbacks), vegetation albedo (positive feedbacks), and peatland methane emissions (positive and negative feedbacks). While the processes involved are complex, not readily quantifiable, and demonstrate both positive and negative feedback potential, we conclude that the combined effect of the feedback mechanisms reviewed here will likely amplify climate change relative to current projections that have not yet adequately incorporated these mechanisms.

The vegetation of the northern Upper Rhine Graben (southwestern Germany) is reconstructed for the end of the Lateglacial and the Holocene by means of palynological analyses in combination with AMS14c dating. Analogous to adjacent lowland areas, the Younger Dryas climatic deterioration didnotresult in a complete deforestation of the area and open pine woodlands with locally birch stands and shrubs persisted. A subdivision of the Younger Dryas period, into a humid first phase, followed by a dry second phase was also reflected in our records. For the Holocene, the pollen diagrams show two regionally different vegetation developments, related to substrate and variations in annual precipitation: in the south the ‘classical’ succession of pine then hazel is followed by other deciduous trees, whereas in the northern part, pine kept its dominance far into the Subboreal.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) standard methodology to conduct national inventories of soil N 2 O emissions is based on default (or Tier I) emission factors for various sources. The objective of our study was to summarize recent N 2 O flux data from agricultural legume crops to assess the emission factor associated with rhizobial nitrogen fixation. Average N 2 O emissions from legumes are 1.0 kg N ha À1 for annual crops, 1.8 kg N ha À1 for pure forage crops and 0.4 kg N ha À1 for grass legume mixes. These values are only slightly greater than background emissions from agricultural crops and are much lower that those predicted using 1996 IPCC methodology. These field flux measurements and other processlevel studies offer little support for the use of an emission factor for biological N fixation (BNF) by legume crops equal to that for fertiliser N. We conclude that much of the increase in soil N 2 O emissions in legume crops may be attributable to the N release from root exudates during the growing season and from decomposition of crop residues after harvest, rather than from BNF per se. Consequently, we propose that the biological fixation process itself be removed from the IPCC N 2 O inventory methodology, and that N 2 O emissions induced by the growth of legume crops be estimated solely as a function of crop residue decomposition using an estimate of above-and below-ground residue inputs, modified as necessary to reflect recent findings on N allocation.

The Hiriya landfill, IsraelÕs largest, operated from 1952 to 1998. The landfill, located in the heart of the Dan Region, developed over the years into a major landscape nuisance and environmental hazard. In 1998, the Israeli government decided to close the landfill, and in 2001 rehabilitation activities began at the site, including site investigations, engineering and scientific evaluations, and end-use planning. The purpose of the present research is to perform a cost-benefit analysis of engineering and architectural-landscape rehabilitation projects considered for the site. An engineering rehabilitation project is required for the reduction of environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, slope instability and leachate formation. An architectural-landscape rehabilitation project would consider improvements to the site to make it suitable for future end uses such as a public park. The findings reveal that reclamation is worthwhile only in the case of architectural-landscape rehabilitation of the landfill, converting it into a public park. Engineering rehabilitation alone was found to be unjustified, but is essential to enable the development of a public park.

Volatile oil prices. Looming climate change. Worldwide economic and political unrest. Worsening traffic congestion. Crisis in transportation financing. As we begin to face the consequences brought about by uncontrolled growth and neglected carbon awareness, we realize that America's ongoing love affair with the car will continue to cause widespread environmental impacts and global conflicts over oil supply. These challenges and their solutions are the ongoing focus of research by the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) at UC Davis. For over two decades, understanding the challenges and solutions have been the nexus of Institute's work. Dr. Dan Sperling and Dr. Tom Turrentine will present their insight of current strategies and research, and promulgate their unique and optimistic views of the rapidly evolving transportation and energy solutions of the future. The duo will unveil how new technologies will allow consumers to access a suite of transportation and energy applications, ranging from dynamic real-time ride sharing applications, to programs that help consumers conserve energy in their cars and homes. As tomorrow's advanced transportation technologies rapidly unfolds, will Lake Tahoe's environmentally sensitive communities be ready to drive to a sustainable future? Presenters:

tory data should reconsider production and transport from Russia, as it is a major producer and exporter to Europe. The calculated ranges of uncertainty factors in ecoinvent provide useful information but they are more indications of uncertainties rather than strict 95% intervals, and should therefore be applied carefully.

The Climate Change debate has drawn attention to the problem of greenhouse gases emissions into the atmosphere. One of the most important issues in the policy debate is the role that should be played by developing countries in joining the commitment of developed countries to reduce GHG emissions, and particularly CO 2 emissions. This debate calls into play the relationship between energy consumption, CO 2 emissions and economic development. In this paper we use a panel data model for 110 world countries to estimate the relationship between CO 2 emissions and GDP and to produce emission forecast. The paper contains three major results: (i) the empirical relationship between carbon dioxide and income is well described by non linear Gamma and Weibull specifications as opposed to more usual linear and log-linear functional forms; (ii) our single equation reduced form model is comparable in terms of forecasted emissions with other more complex, less data driven models; (iii) despite the decreasing marginal propensity to pollute, our forecasts show that future global emissions will rise. The average world growth of CO 2 emissions between 2000 and 2020 is about 2.2% per year, while that of Non Annex 1 countries is posted at 3.3% per year.

This paper analyses whether and how a climate policy designed to stabilize greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is likely to change the direction and pace of technical progress. The analysis is performed using an upgraded version of WITCH, a dynamic integrated regional model of the world economy, which features a detailed representation of the energy sector. A non-energy R&D Sector, which enhances the productivity of the capital-labour aggregate, has been added to the energy R&D sector already modelled in WITCH. Then, a global emission trading scheme designed to stabilize CO 2 concentrations at 450 ppm (550 ppm all GHG included) has been introduced. We find that, as a consequence, R&D is re-directed towards energy knowledge and that the ratio of energy to non-energy R&D investment increases significantly, as expected. Nonetheless, total optimal R&D investments decrease, due to a more than proportional contraction of non-energy R&D. Indeed, when non-energy and energy inputs are weakly substitutable, the overall contraction of the economic activity associated with a climate policy may induce the decline in total R&D investments. By contrast, enhanced investments in energy R&D and in the energy sector are found not to "crowd-out" investments in non-energy R&D.

Understanding the upward motion of CO 2 droplets or CH 4 bubbles in oceanic waters is prerequisite to predict the vertical distribution of the two most important greenhouse gases in the water column after these have been released from the seabed. One of the key parameters governing the fate of droplets or bubbles dissolving into the surrounding seawater as they rise, is the terminal velocity, u T. The latter is strongly influenced by the ability of both compounds to form skins of gas hydrate, if pressure and temperature satisfy thermodynamic framework conditions. Experimental efforts aiming to elucidate the rise properties of CO 2 droplets and CH 4 bubbles and specifically the influence of hydrate skins open the possibility to obtain a parameterization of u T applicable to both hydrate-coated and pure fluid particles of CH 4 and CO 2. With the present study, we report on experimentally determined terminal velocities of single CH 4 bubbles released to pressurized and temperature-regulated seawater. Hydrate skins were identified by high bubble sphericities and changed motion characteristics. Based on these experiments as well as published data on the rise of hydrate-coated and pure liquid CO 2 droplets and physical principles previously successfully used for clean bubbles near atmospheric pressures, a new parameterization of u T is proposed. Model predictions show a good agreement with the data base established from the laboratory-based measurements.

The transport sector contributes significantly to the emission of global greenhouse gases (GHGs) resulting in a rise in global temperature and climate change. A troubling aspect of emissions from the transport sector is that they are increasing rapidly. With the ongoing rapid increase in population, expansion of middle class in developing countries, and availability of cheaper vehicles such as Tata Nano in India, the desire to own private vehicles is within reach now than ever for millions of people in the developing world. This could have a huge implication on ongoing effort towards containment of GHG emissions. We look at the role of urban design forms e settlement density e housing and employment activities and the effects they could have in reducing travel demands, motor vehicle dependency and GHG emissions. Although urban planning has a limited effect on the reduction of GHG emissions, in the short term, due to the time needed to build up the necessary infrastructures, in the long term, it can be very effective through the shift from private vehicle dependency to public and other alternative environmentally friendly modes of transports (such as walking and cycling). A mixture of high residential and employment density could influence shorter commuter journeys and a reduction in private vehicle use if it is supported by an efficient public transport system and appropriate fiscal and regulatory instruments. Among the set of available instruments to reduce GHGs from the transport sector, urban planning, may be equally important, if not more to contain emissions from the transport sector.