Global greenhouse gas emissions, 1970-2001

Global greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2001

The total global emissions of greenhouse gases by human activities increased by 11% in the period 1990-2001 - approximately the same rate as the preceding years - with emissions in 2001 increasing by approximately 1%. The increase in 2001 was mainly the result of higher carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the use of fossil energy and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from agriculture; In addition, the rise was also accounted for by the fluorrine-containing gases (HFCs, PFCs and SF₆) in particular, as well as carbon dioxide from other sources such as cement production.
The increase in the emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide of approximately 10% in the last ten years is comparable to the percentage increase in the 1980s. On the other hand, the methane (CH₄) emissions in the 1990s have remained the same on balance. This contrasts with the previous decade in which they also increased by 10%. The proportion of emissions accounted for by the fluorine-containing gases HFCs, PFCs and SF₆ has doubled in the last decade from approximately 0.6 to 1.2%.

Developments since 1970

Global emissions of the six Kyoto greenhouse gases increased by more than 50% between 1970 and 2000. Global carbon dioxide emissions rose by approximately 60% during the same period, methane by some 25% and nitrous oxide by 45%. This can be explained by the increase of methane emissions from the use of fossil energy use (+60%), and particularly gas consumption, and from waste generation (+70%) (landfill sites and waste water). Emissions from agriculture have remained the same on balance. The increase in nitrous oxide emissions is the result of an increase in the use of artificial fertilisers and manure and of an increase in livestock and arable farming.

Policy

The objective is the reduction, between 2008 and 2012, of emissions of greenhouse gases by the industrialised countries that have signed the Kyoto Protocol, including Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, to an average level of 5% below the 1990 level.

Climate change: policy

Relevance

The emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and of the fluorine-containing gases HFCs, PFCs and SF₆ are covered by the UN Climate Treaty and the Kyoto Protocol. It is far from being the case that all countries report annually on their greenhouse gas emissions and the Kyoto Protocol imposes restrictions only on the emissions trend 1990-2008/2012 for the industrialised countries which are signatories to the Protocol.

Technical note

The carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of fossil energy are the actual annual emissions; in other words they are not corrected for temperature. Short-cyclic carbon dioxide has not been included.

See the Statistics Netherlands definition in 'CO₂ emissions explained' for a detailed explanation of the various methods for determining carbon dioxide emissions.

Carbon dioxide emissions caused by deforestation are not the actual emissions; they are based on the multi-year trend for each country. It has been assumed for the time being that the emissions after 1995 were at the same level as 1995. When estimating the emissions of methane and nitrous oixde, a possible trend in the emission factors for the main sources was taken into account.

References

IEA (2002). CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion, 1971-2000. 2002 Edition. International Energy Agency (IEA), Paris.

Olivier, J.G.J., J.J.M. Berdowski, J.A.H.W. Peters, J. Bakker, A.J.H. Visschedijk and J.-P.J. Bloos (2000). Applications of EDGAR. Including a description of EDGAR 3.0: reference database with trend data for 1970-1995. RIVM (report no. 773 301 001/NOP report no. 410 200 051), Bilthoven.

Olivier, J.G.J. and J.J.M. Berdowski (2001). Global emissions sources and sinks. In: Berdowski, J., R. Guicherit and B.J. Heij (eds.) "The Climate System", pp. 33-78. A.A. Balkema Publishers/Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers, Lisse, The Netherlands. ISBN 90 5809 255 0.

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

An extensive reference database - 'EDGAR 3' with global emissions of greenhouse gases by country for the period 1970-1995 - can be found on the website of the RIVM.

Detailed international statistics about agriculture and livestock farming per country for the period 1960-2001 can be found on the website of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.

Information about the official greenhouse gas emissions reported by countries can be found on the website of the UN Climate Secretariat, which collects information about the implementation of the UN Climate Treaty (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol.

Information about future global developments can be found in the Global Environmental Outlook 3, on which RIVM also collaborated.