Climate Change Blog 1: Brazil GHG Emissions Performance after Rio-92 Convention
Brazil was the first country to sign the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – UNFCCC at Rio-92. From this point institutions have been created to address the issue and voluntary commitments that represent a significant reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases were implemented in the country.1
Let’s have a look on the Brazilian GHG emission performance since Rio-92 convention.
CO2 Emissions
From 1990 to 2005, emissions from industrial processes increased by 45%, however they represent 4% of total CO2.The largest share of net CO2 emissions comes from change in land-use, especially relating to the conversion of forests into cropland and pasture, change in carbon stock in the soils, showing a net emissions of 77% of total CO2 emissions in 2005.
Change in land use emissions stand out in the country also because Brazil has a large share of renewable energy in its energy matrix and uses ethanol extensively as a source of fuel for vehicles. Therefore emissions related by consumption of fossil fuel are relatively low for a large developing country.
Nonetheless In 2005, CO2 emissions from the Energy sector represented 19% of total CO2 emissions mainly from fugitive emissions of burning gas in platform and refinery torches, and the inadvertent burning in coal waste piles, showing an increase of 74% in comparison to 1990 emissions. The transport sector accounted for 8.1% of total CO2 emissions in the same year.
CH4 Emissions
Similarly with the CO2 case, the most responsible CH4 emissions is the Agriculture sector 71% in 2005, almost all referring to non-dairy cattle, the second largest herd in the world. In2005. Manure management, irrigated rice crops and burning of agriculture residues were responsible for the remaining emissions. In relation change in Land-Use, CH4 emissions occur from burning biomass in deforestation areas, representing 17% of total CH4 emissions in 2005.2
N2O Emissions
In Brazil, N2O emissions also occur predominantly in the Agriculture sector, 87% in 2005, as from deposition of animal manure in pasture and from application of fertilizers in cropland. Overall N2O emissions grew 43% between 1990 and 2005.2 chapter
In order to address the issues of change in land use a Good Practice Guidance LULUCF was published in 2003 in the country, in addition in 2009 a National Policy on Climate Change – PNMC was put into practice with the aim to combine social and economic development with reduction GHG emissions and adaption to climate change.
References
1) Chapter 3 Relevant Institutional Arrangements for Elaborating the National Communication on Permanent Bases.
http://www.mct.gov.br/upd_blob/0215/215075.pdf
2) Chapter 2 Summary of Anthropogenic Emissions by Sources and Removal by Sinks of Greenhouse Gases.
http://www.mct.gov.br/upd_blob/0215/215078.pdf
2 comentarios /
06 Feb 2012
por
Patricia Perez Costa
IMSD /
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