Emission of CO2, CH4 and N2O from fuel combustion, industrial processes, agricultural and waste treatment sectors in Yangtze River Valley region, China, 1990-2010

Abstract

This paper presents a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory in the Yangtze River Valley (YRV) region for the period from 1990 to 2010. IPCC guidelines methods accounting emissions of three main GHG (CO2, CH4, and N2O) from four sectors (fuel combustion, industrial processes, agricultural and waste treatment sectors) were utilised in this study. According to present study the total GHG emissions in the region continued to increase. Energy sector is the largest emissions source in the region. Waste treatment sector is the smallest emissions source. However, the sector has the highest annual growth rate. Economic structure and level of development seem to be the key reasons leading to spatial heterogeneity of GHG emissions. GHG emission intensity continued to reduce in this region, but per capita emissions continued to rise in the region. Implementations of strategies to reduce future GHG emissions are urgently needed, in particular, from fuel consumption and waste treatment sectors.