Carbon accounting for Japanese petrochemicals

This paper discusses two bottom-up models for the estimation of carbon storage and CO₂ emissions related to the nonenergy use of fossil energy carriers. The models show how material flow accounting can be applied to policy making. The nonenergy use emission accounting tables model is a static model, while the chemical industry environmental strategy assessment program (CHEAP) model is a dynamic model of the flows of synthetic organic materials. Both models provide detailed and more accurate estimates of carbon storage in materials than the accounting method that is currently used in the framework of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climatic Change (IPCC) guidelines. The results for both models suggest that carbon storage in synthetic organic materials has been overestimated, and consequently CO₂ emissions have been underestimated. Japanese CO₂ emissions in 1996 were at least 1.9% higher than reported previously. The CHEAP model results indicate that the net carbon storage (storage − emissions in waste incineration) will decrease during the next few decades. This decrease is mainly driven by changing waste management practice. Received: December 8, 2000 / Accepted: August 15, 2001