Will funding to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and (forest) Degradation (REDD+) stop conversion of peat swamps to oil palm in orangutan habitat in Tripa in Aceh,Indonesia?

Tripa is the last remaining peat-swamp forest that harbours a potentially viable Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) sub-population in a formally but not effectively protected area. It appears to be a simple showcase where current efforts to financially support reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) converge with biodiversity and social co-benefits. In practice, however, situation is more complex. REDD+ efforts interact with global palm oil trade and regulatory approaches (the moratorium) to achieve national goals for emissions reduction under umbrella of nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMA). To contextualize this debate, we assessed (i) land-use history and formal basis of palm-oil companies’ rights; (ii) carbon (C) stocks, historical emission levels and potential emissions that can be avoided; (iii) economic benefits of land-use options and opportunity costs of avoiding emissions; (iv) biodiversity and environmental services; and (v) alternative options for “high C stock development” and employment generation. Natural forest cover declined (54 % in 1995, 18 % in 2009) while oil palm increased 4–39 %. Aboveground C stocks decreased from 148 Mg ha^?1 in 1990 to 61 Mg ha^?1 in 2009, leading to average annual emissions of 14.5 Mg (carbon dioxide) CO₂e ha^?1 year^?1. While 41 % of these emissions yield less than American Dollar (USD) 5 of current economic benefits per Mg CO₂e emitted and might be compensated by REDD+, nearly all new emissions derive from a breach of existing laws, regulations and voluntary palm-oil standards. Substantial investment in alternative employment is needed, rather than carbon payments per se, to support livelihoods in a low carbon emissions economy.     

蛋白核小球藻Chlorella pyrenoidosa-15的异养培养条件优化及污水养殖

为了提高微藻的生物量及油脂产量以降低微藻生物柴油的生产成本,采用光异养培养模式对蛋白核小球藻进行培养,确定其最适生长的碳源为葡萄糖,氮源为大豆蛋白胨.采用响应面设计的方法对蛋白核小球藻Chlorella pyrenoidosa-15光异养培养过程中的最佳碳氮源浓度进行了优化,在葡萄糖含量为17.53 g.L-1,大豆蛋白胨含量为8.67 g.L-1时,生物量最大产量为0.63 g.(L.d)-1,与模型预测结果[0.62 g.(L.d)-1]基本吻合,此时其油脂含量为19.25%,油脂产量达到121.3mg.(L.d)-1.污水养殖结果显示,在以北京市城市生活污水为培养基的情况下,微藻Chlorella pyrenoidosa-15对污水具有良好的净化能力,COD的去除率达到80.9%,总氮的去除率达到69%,同时其也具有较好的产油效率,生物量和油脂含量分别可达到1.00 g.L-1和24.12%,具有进一步研究的理论及应用价值.     

Impacts of land use,restoration, and climate change on tropical peat carbon stocks in the twenty-first century: implications for climate mitigation

The climate mitigation potential of tropical peatlands has gained increased attention as Southeast Asian peatlands are being deforested, drained and burned at very high rates, causing globally significant carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions to the atmosphere. We used a process-based dynamic tropical peatland model to explore peat carbon (C) dynamics of several management scenarios within the context of simulated twenty-first century climate change. Simulations of all scenarios with land use, including restoration, indicated net C losses over the twenty-first century ranging from 10 to 100 % of pre-disturbance values. Fire can be the dominant C-loss pathway, particularly in the drier climate scenario we tested. Simulated 100 years of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) cultivation with an initial prescribed burn resulted in 2400–3000 Mg CO₂?ha^?1 total emissions. Simulated restoration following one 25-year oil palm rotation reduced total emissions to 440–1200 Mg CO₂?ha^?1, depending on climate. These results suggest that even under a very optimistic scenario of hydrological and forest restoration and the wettest climate regime, only about one third of the peat C lost to the atmosphere from 25 years of oil palm cultivation can be recovered in the following 75 years if the site is restored. Emissions from a simulated land degradation scenario were most sensitive to climate, with total emissions ranging from 230 to 10,600 Mg CO₂?ha^?1 over 100 years for the wettest and driest dry season scenarios, respectively. The large difference was driven by increased fire probability. Therefore, peat fire suppression is an effective management tool to maintain tropical peatland C stocks in the near term and should be a high priority for climate mitigation efforts. In total, we estimate emissions from current cleared peatlands and peatlands converted to oil palm in Southeast Asia to be 8.7 Gt CO₂ over 100 years with a moderate twenty-first century climate. These emissions could be minimized by effective fire suppression and hydrological restoration.     

Soil moisture determines the effectiveness of two urease inhibitors to decrease N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emission

Among the mitigation strategies to prevent nitrogen (N) losses from ureic fertilizers, urease inhibitors (UIs) have been demonstrated to promote high N use efficiency by reducing ammonia (NH₃) volatilization. In the last few years, some field experiments have also shown its effectiveness in reducing nitrous oxide (N₂O) losses from fertilized soils under conditions of low soil moisture. An incubation experiment was carried out with the aim of assessing the main biotic mechanisms behind N₂O emissions once that the UIs N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamid (NBPT) and phenil phosphorodiamidate (PPDA) were applied with Urea (U) under different soil moisture conditions (40, 60 and 80 % water-filled pore space, WFPS). In the same study we tried to analyze to what extent soil WFPS regulates the effect of these inhibitors on N₂O emissions. The use of PPDA in our study allowed us to compare the effect of NBPT with that of another commercially available urease inhibitor, aiming to see if the results were inhibitor-specific or not. Based on the results from this experiment, a WFPS (i.e. 60 %) was chosen for a second study (i.e. mesocosm experiment) aiming to assess the efficiency of the UIs to indirectly affect N₂O emissions through influencing the pool of soil mineral N. The N₂O emissions at 40 % WFPS were almost negligible, being significantly lower from all fertilized treatments than that produced at 60 and 80 % WFPS. When compared to U alone, NBPT+U reduced the N₂O emissions at 60 % WFPS but had no effect at 80 % WFPS. The application of PPDA significantly increased the emissions with respect to U at 80 % WFPS whereas no significant effect was found at 60 %. At 80 % WFPS, denitrification was the main source of N₂O emissions for all treatments. In the mesocosm study, the application of NBPT+U was an effective strategy to reduce N₂O emissions (75 % reduction compared to U alone), due to a lower soil ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) content induced by the inhibitor. These results suggest that adequate management of the UI NBPT could provide, under certain soil conditions, an opportunity for mitigation of N₂O emissions from fertilized soils.     

调水型水库藻类对调水氮、磷浓度与水量的响应

以南方某典型的调水型水库为研究对象,采用EFDC模型建立了水库的三维水动力和富营养化模型,并根据长历时的水文和水质数据对模型进行了率定和验证.基于模型计算结果,分析了水库氮、磷浓度对藻类生长的影响,计算了藻类对调水氮、磷浓度及调水量的响应关系.结果表明,水库氮、磷浓度对藻类生长的限制作用很小.在降幅相同的情况下,降低磷浓度比降低氮浓度的藻类浓度降幅更大,削减60%的氮,叶绿素a无明显下降,削减60%的磷,叶绿素a平均下降12.4%,分别削减90%的氮和磷,叶绿素a分别平均下降17.9%和35.1%.当调水量高于现状的20%,藻类浓度随调水量增大而降低,当调水量低于20%,藻类浓度随调水量增大而升高,调水量比现状增大1倍,叶绿素a平均降低25.7%,调水量降至20%,叶绿素a平均升高38.8%.本研究对于支撑水源地的富营养化控制工作具有重要意义.     

Global Biomass Energy Potential

The intensive use of renewable energy is one of the options to stabilize CO₂atmospheric concentration at levels of 350 to 550ppm. A recent evaluation of the global potential of primary renewable energy carried out by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sets a value of at least 2800EJ/yr, which is more than the most energy-intensive SRES scenario forecast for the world energy requirement up to the year 2100. Nevertheless, what is really important to quantify is the amount of final energy since the use of renewable sources may involve conversion efficiencies, from primary to final energy, different from the ones of conventional energy sources. In reality, IPCC does not provide a complete account of the final energy from renewables, but the text claims that using several available options to mitigate climate change, and renewables is only one of them, it is possible to stabilize atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration at a low level. In this paper, we evaluate in detail biomass primary and final energy using sugarcane crop as a proxy, since it is one of the highest energy density forms of biomass, and through afforestation/reforestation using a model presented in IPCC Second Assessment Report (SAR). The conclusion is that the primary-energy potential for biomass has been under-evaluated by many authors and by IPCC, and this under-evaluation is even larger for final energy since sugarcane allows co-production of electricity and liquid fuel. Regarding forests we reproduce IPCC results for primary energy and calculate final energy. Sugarcane is a tropical crop and cannot be grown in all the land area forecasted for biomass energy plantation in the IPCC/TAR evaluation (i.e. 1280Mha). Nevertheless, there are large expanses of unexploited land, mainly in Latin America and Africa that are subject to warm weather and convenient rainfall. With the use of 143Mha of these lands it is possible to produce 164EJ/yr (1147GJ/hayr or 3.6W/m²on average) of primary energy and 90EJ/yr of final energy in the form of liquid fuel (alcohol) and electricity, using agricultural productivities near the best ones already achievable and biomass gasification technology. More remarkable is that these results can be obtained with the operation of 4,000 production units with unitary capacity similar to the largest currently in operation. These units should be spread over the tropical land area yielding a plantation density similar to the one presently observed in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, where alcohol and electricity have been commercialized in a cost-effective way for several years. Such an amount of final energy would be sufficiently large to fulfill all the expected global increase in oil demand, as well as in electricity consumption by 2030, assuming the energy demand of such sources continues to grow at the same pace observed over the last two decades. When sugarcane crops are combined with afforestation/reforestation it is possible to show that carbon emissions decline for some IPCC SRES scenarios by 2030, 2040 and 2050. Such energy alternatives significantly reduce CO₂emissions by displacing fossil fuels and promote sustainable development through the creation of millions of direct and indirect jobs. Also, it opens an opportunity for negative CO₂emissions when coupled with carbon dioxide capture and storage.     

Algal biofuel production and mitigation potential in India

Energy and energy services are the backbone of growth and development in India and is increasingly dependent upon the use of fossil based fuels that lead to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and related concerns. Algal biofuels are being evolved as carbon (C)-neutral alternative biofuels. Algae are photosynthetic microorganisms that convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide (CO₂) to various sugars and lipids Tri-Acyl-Glycols (TAG) and show promise as an alternative, renewable and green fuel source for India. Compared to land based oilseed crops algae have potentially higher yields (5?C12 g/m²/d) and can use locations and water resources not suited for agriculture. Within India, there is little additional land area for algal cultivation and therefore needs to be carried out in places that are already used for agriculture, e.g. flooded paddy lands (20 Mha) with village level technologies and on saline wastelands (3 Mha). Cultivating algae under such conditions requires novel multi-tier, multi-cyclic approaches of sharing land area without causing threats to food and water security as well as demand for additional fertilizer resources by adopting multi-tier cropping (algae-paddy) in decentralized open pond systems. A large part of the algal biofuel production is possible in flooded paddy crop land before the crop reaches dense canopies, in wastewaters (40 billion litres per day), in salt affected lands and in nutrient/diversity impoverished shallow coastline fishery. Mitigation will be achieved through avoidance of GHG, C-capture options and substitution of fossil fuels. Estimates made in this paper suggest that nearly half of the current transportation petro-fuels could be produced at such locations without disruption of food security, water security or overall sustainability. This shift can also provide significant mitigation avenues. The major adaptation needs are related to socio-technical acceptance for reuse of various wastelands, wastewaters and waste-derived energy and by-products through policy and attitude change efforts.     

Root- and peat-based CO2 emissions from oil palm plantations

Measured carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux from peat soils using the closed chamber technique combines root-related (autotrophic + heterotrophic where rhizosphere organisms are involved) and peat-based (heterotrophic) respiration. The latter contributes to peat loss while the former is linked to recent CO₂ removal through photosynthesis. The objective of this study was to separate root- from peat-based respiration. The study was conducted on peatland under 6 and 15 year old oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plantations in Jambi Province, Indonesia in 2011 to 2012. CO₂ emissions were measured in the field from 25 cm diameter and 25 cm tall closed chambers using an infrared gas analyser. Root sampling and CO₂ emissions measurements were at distances of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 m from the centre of the base of the palm tree. The emission rate for the six and 15 year old oil palm plantations at ≥3.0 m from the centre of the tree were 38.2?±?9.5 and 34.1?±?15.9 Mg CO₂ ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. At distances <2.5 m, total respiration linearly decreased with distances from the trees. Heterotrophic respirations were 86 % of the 44.7?±?11.2 and 71 % of 47.8?±?21.3 Mg CO₂ ha^?1 yr^?1 of weighted surface flux, respectively for the 6 and 15 year old plantations. We propose that CO₂ flux measurements in oil palm plantations made at a distance of ≥3 m from the tree centre be used to represent the heterotrophic respiration that is relevant for the environmental impact assessment.     

Greenhouse gas balances of molasses based ethanol in Nepal

This paper evaluates life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) balances in production and use of molasses-based ethanol (EtOH) in Nepal. The total life cycle emissions of EtOH is estimated at 432.5 kgCO_2eq m⁻³ ethanol (i.e. 20.4 gCO_2eq MJ⁻¹). Avoided emissions are 76.6% when conventional gasoline is replaced by molasses derived ethanol. A sensitivity analysis was performed to verify the impact of variations in material and energy flows, and allocation ratios in the GHG balances. Market prices of sugar and molasses, amount of nitrogen-fertilizers used in sugarcane production, and sugarcane yield per hectare turn out to be important parameters for the GHG balances estimation. Sales of the surplus electricity derived from bagasse could reduce emissions by replacing electricity produced in diesel power plants. Scenario analysis on two wastewater processes for treatment of effluents obtained from ethanol conversion has also been carried out. If wastewater generated from ethanol conversion unit is treated in pond stabilization (PS) treatment process, GHG emissions alarmingly increase to a level of 4032 kgCO_2eq m⁻³ ethanol. Results also show that the anaerobic digestion process (ADP) and biogas recovery without leakages can significantly avoid GHG emissions, and improve the overall emissions balance of EtOH in Nepal. At a 10% biogas leakage, life cycle emissions is 1038 kgCO_2eq m⁻³ ethanol which corresponds to 44% avoided emissions compared to gasoline. On the other hand, total emissions surpass the level of its counterpart (i.e. gasoline) when the leakage of biogas exceeds 23.4%.     

Greenhouse gas emission factors for land use and land-use change in Southeast Asian peatlands

Tropical peat swamp forests, which are predominantly located in Southeast Asia (SEA) and play a prominent role as a global carbon store, are being intensively degraded and converted to agricultural lands and tree plantations. For national inventories, updated estimates of peat emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from land use (LU) and land-use change in the tropics are required. In this context, we reviewed the scientific literature and calculated emission factors of peat net emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) in seven representative LU categories for SEA i.e. intact peat swamp forest, degraded forest (logged, drained and affected by fire), mixed croplands and shrublands, rice fields, oil palm, Acacia crassicarpa and sago palm plantations. Peat net CO₂ uptake from or emissions to the atmosphere were assessed using a mass balance approach. The balance included main peat C inputs through litterfall and root mortality and outputs via organic matter mineralization and dissolved organic carbon. Peat net CO₂ loss rate from degraded forest, croplands and shrublands, rice fields, oil palm, A. crassicarpa and sago palm plantations amounted to 19.4?±?9.4, 41.0?±?6.7, 25.6?±?11.5, 29.9?±?10.6, 71.8?±?12.7 and 5.2?±?5.1 Mg CO₂ ha^?1 y^?1, respectively. Total peat GHG losses amounted to 20.9?±?9.4, 43.8?±?6.8, 36.1?±?12.9, 30.4?±?10.6, 72?±?12.8 and 8.6?±?5.3 Mg CO₂-equivalent ha^?1 y^?1 in the same LU categories, respectively. A single land-clearing fire would result in additional emissions of 493.6?±?156.0 Mg CO₂-equivalent ha^?1.     

Leakage of nitrous oxide emissions within the Spanish agro-food system in 1961–2009

In this paper we examine the trends of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions of the Spanish agricultural sector related to national production and consumption in the 1961–2009 period. The comparison between production- and consumption-based emissions at the national level provides a complete overview of the actual impact resulting from the dietary choices of a given country and allows the evaluation of potential emission leakages. On average, 1.5 % of the new reactive nitrogen that enters Spain every year is emitted as N₂O. Production- and consumption-based emissions have both significantly increased in the period studied and nowadays consumption-based emissions are 45 % higher than production-based emissions. A large proportion of the net N₂O emissions associated with imported agricultural goods comes from countries that are not committers for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Kyoto Protocol Annex I. An increase in feed consumption is the main driver of the changes observed, leading to a remarkable emission leakage in the Spanish agricultural sector. The complementary approach used here is essential to achieve an effective mitigation of Spanish greenhouse gas emissions.     

施氮对黄土旱塬区春玉米土壤呼吸和温度敏感性的影响

了解施氮对土壤呼吸和温度敏感性的影响,是研究农田土壤呼吸变化的重要环节,对预测农田土壤呼吸变化具有重要意义.基于中国科学院长武黄土高原农业生态试验站的氮肥管理试验,于2013年4月至2014年9月利用LI-8100系统(LICOR,Lincoln,NE,USA)监测施氮和不施氮条件下旱地春玉米生长季土壤呼吸、温度、水分以及根系生物量的变化,研究施氮条件下生物与非生物因素对土壤呼吸速率和温度敏感性(Q10)的影响.施氮显著提高了生长季土壤的累积呼吸量(P0.05),与不施氮相比,施氮处理累积呼吸量2013年提高了35%,2014年提高了54%.但施氮显著降低了土壤呼吸温度敏感性(P0.05),施氮处理的Q10较对照2013年降低了27%,2014年降低了17%.施氮显著提高了春玉米产量、地上部生物量和根系生物量(P0.05).施氮处理根系生物量较不施氮处理2013年提高了0.32倍,2014年提高了1.23倍.施氮对土壤温度和水分无显著影响,根系生物量是施氮条件下导致土壤呼吸差异的重要生物因素.     

Sustainable biofuels from algae

There is currently great interest in microalgae as sources of renewable energy and biofuels. Many algae species have a high lipid content and can be grown on non-arable land using alternate water sources such as seawater. This paper discusses in detail the issue of sustainability of commercial-scale microalgae production of biofuels with particular focus on land, water, nutrients (N and P) and CO₂ requirements and highlights some of the key issues in the very large scale culture of microalgae which is required for biofuels. The use of genetically modified algae is also considered.     

Peat emission control by groundwater management and soil amendments: evidence from laboratory experiments

Peat respiration that releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the atmosphere contributes to regional and global change. Aeration associated with soil water content levels controls emission rates, but soil amendments might mitigate respiration. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of various water content levels and laterite application on microbial (heterotrophic) respiration in peat soil. Bulk samples of surface (0–20 cm depth) and subsurface (30–50 cm depth) layers were collected from an oil palm plantation in Riau Province, Indonesia. Peat water content was adjusted to 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 % water filled pore space (WFPS). Laterite soil (clay containing high Al and Fe oxides) was applied to 3, 6, and 12 mg g^?1 dry weight (1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 Mg ha^?1) peat samples at 60 % and 100 % WFPS. Results showed peat respiration was notably affected by water content, but less affected by laterite application. Peat respiration increased sharply from wet (≥80 % WFPS) to moist soil (60 to 40 % WFPS), and decreased when soil dried (≤40 % WFPS). Laterite as a peat ameliorant accelerated rather than reduced peat respiration, and is therefore not a viable choice for CO₂ emissions reduction.     

Is CO2 flux from oil palm plantations on peatland controlled by soil moisture and/or soil and air temperatures?

Measurements of carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux at the soil surface of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plantations on peatlands typically exhibit considerable temporal and spatial variation, which challenges the derivation of emission factors required in land use discussions. We tested 20 cm surface soil moisture content, and the diurnal patterns in soil and air temperatures as CO₂ flux controls during an annual measurement schedule in a 15-year-old oil palm plantation in Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. A total of 480 CO₂ flux measurements were obtained using an Infrared Gas Analyser (IRGA) at six different time intervals each day. Samples were recorded at 20 observation points distributed along four transects located 15, 42, 50, 70, and 84 m from the edge of the drainage canal. Results showed CO₂ flux exhibited no relationship to soil and air temperature, however values tended to increase with volumetric soil moisture content; the highest annual flux of 55 Mg ha^?1 yr^?1 was observed at mid-day, when air temperature was highest, and lowest at dawn when soil and air temperatures were lowest. CO₂ flux decreased consistent with distance from the drainage canal, suggesting a higher flux with a deeper water table. This result indicates a shallow water table must be maintained. The annual mean CO₂ flux of 46?±?30 Mg CO₂ ha^?1 yr^?1 was comparable to other studies, and can be set as a baseline emissions factor for areas with similar land use and peat characteristics.     

太湖水体Chl-a预测模型ARIMA的构建及应用优化

叶绿素a（Chl-a）是湖泊浮游植物生物量的重要指标,其含量能反映水中浮游植物的丰度和变化规律.以1999年12月~2019年8月太湖水体Chl-a和环境因子的逐月监测数据为基础,运用主成分分析方法探讨了Chl-a与环境因子的关系,据此建立了Chl-a与主要环境因素之间的多元线性逐步回归模型及自回归综合移动平均模型（ARIMA）.结果表明：①太湖Chl-a浓度存在着明显的季节变化,且总体处于上升趋势.总磷（TP）、高锰酸盐指数、月均气温（MAT）和月度降雨量（MR）与Chl-a浓度存在较好的变化同步性,总氮（TN）和氨氮（NH₄⁺-N）则表现出明显的滞后性.②主成分分析结果表明,太湖水体藻类暴发条件不仅仅是基于N和P等限制性因素,而是发展为TN、NH₄⁺-N、TP和高锰酸盐指数、MR和MAT等多元因素的综合影响.③两种模型经验证比较,基于1999~2019年逐月资料建立的Chl-a浓度的ARIMA模型模拟效果和预测精度明显优于所建立的多元线性逐步回归模型,特别是在考虑主要环境因素作为自变量及优化自变量取值情况下其预测效果得到进一步提升.建立的ARIMA（0,1,1）（0,1,1）模型将有助于太湖藻类暴发的预报和预警,并为及时有效地安排水资源调度及调控等水环境管理措施提供依据.     

Managing the nitrogen cycle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from crop production and biofuel expansion

Public policies are promoting biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuel consumption in order to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the mitigation benefit can be at least partially compromised by emissions occurring during feedstock production. One of the key sources of GHG emissions from biofuel feedstock production, as well as conventional crops, is soil nitrous oxide (N₂O), which is largely driven by nitrogen (N) management. Our objective was to determine how much GHG emissions could be reduced by encouraging alternative N management practices through application of nitrification inhibitors and a cap on N fertilization. We used the US Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS2) as the basis for a case study to evaluate technical and economic drivers influencing the N management mitigation strategies. We estimated soil N₂O emissions using the DayCent ecosystem model and applied the US Forest and Agricultural Sector Optimization Model with Greenhouse Gases (FASOMGHG) to project GHG emissions for the agricultural sector, as influenced by biofuel scenarios and N management options. Relative to the current RSF2 policy with no N management interventions, results show decreases in N₂O emissions ranging from 3 to 4 % for the agricultural sector (5.5–6.5 million metric tonnes CO₂?eq.?year^?1; 1 million metric tonnes is equivalent to a Teragram) in response to a cap that reduces N fertilizer application and even larger reductions with application of nitrification inhibitors, ranging from 9 to 10 % (15.5–16.6 million tonnes CO₂?eq.?year^?1). The results demonstrate that climate and energy policies promoting biofuel production could consider options to manage the N cycle with alternative fertilization practices for the agricultural sector and likely enhance the mitigation of GHG emissions associated with biofuels.     

Carbon reduction potential and cost evaluation of different mitigation approaches in China's coal to olefin Industry

Coal-based olefin (CTO) industry as a complement of traditional petrochemical industry plays vital role in China's national economic development. However, high CO₂ emission in CTO industry is one of the fatal problems to hinder its development. In this work, the carbon emission and mitigation potentials by different reduction pathways are evaluated. The economic cost is analyzed and compared as well. According to the industry development plan, the carbon emissions from China's CTO industry will attain 189.43 million ton CO₂ (MtCO₂) and 314.11 MtCO₂ in 2020 and 2030, respectively. With the advanced technology level, the maximal carbon mitigation potential could be attained to 15.3% and 21.9% in 2020 and 2030. If the other optional mitigation ways are combined together, the carbon emission could further reduce to some extent. In general, the order of mitigation potential is followed as: feedstock alteration by natural gas > CO₂ hydrogenation with renewable electricity applied > CCS technology. The mitigation cost analysis indicates that on the basis of 2015 situation, the economic penalty for feedstock alteration is the lowest, ranged between 186 and 451 CNY/tCO₂, and the cost from CCS technology is ranged between 404 and 562 CNY/tCO₂, which is acceptable if the CO₂ enhanced oil recovery and carbon tax are considered. However, for the CO₂ hydrogenation technology, the cost is extremely high and there is almost no application possibility at present.     

Comparison of CH4 emission inventory data and emission estimates from atmospheric transport models and concentration measurements

CH₄ emissions from two sources of emission inventory data i.e. the National Communications and the EDGAR/GEIA database, are compared with emission estimates from six global and two regional atmospheric transport models. The emission inventories were compiled using emission process parameters to establish emission factors and statistical data to derive activity data. The emission estimates were derived from an evaluation of atmospheric transport modelling results and measured concentrations of CH₄. The comparison of emission inventories and the emissions derived from atmospheric transport models shows the largest differences on the global scale to occur in biogenic CH₄ emissions, i.e. by wetlands and biomass burning. Anthropogenic CH₄ emissions due to oil and gas production and distribution, also appear rather uncertain, especially with respect to the spatial distribution of the sources. A comparison of CH₄ emissions on a smaller scale (NW Europe) showed a fair amount of agreement between National Communications, EDGAR data and results of inverse atmospheric modelling. Because most of the CH₄ emissions in this area come from reasonably well-known CH₄ emission sources like ruminants and landfills, this is a good argument. CH₄ emission from some areas in the North Sea was underestimated by inventories. This could be due to CH₄ emissions of oil production platforms in the North Sea.