Greenhouse gas inventory south africa i preface this report is the result of work commissioned by the department of environmental affairs and tourism deat to develop the 2000 national inventory of greenhouse gases ghgs for south africa. Transport sector greenhouse gas inventory for south africa for the base year 2009 mphethe tongwane student no. South africas total ghg emissions grew 44% from 19902012. May 07, 2020 wikihow is a wiki, similar to wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are cowritten by multiple authors. The case for charges on greenhouse gas emissions harvard. The draft greenhouse gas emission reporting regulations envisage the creation of a single national system for the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. Closed static and dynamic chambers are available as both manual and automatic versions.
Greenhouse gas emissions in south africa climatelinks. Africa accounts for the smallest share of global greenhouse gas emissions 3. Frankel june 1999 growth targets for emissions of greenhouse gases ghg by developing countries should be part of the effort to mitigate global climate change. South africas greenhouse gas emission reduction system.
Understanding the greenhouse effect columbia university. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and facilitating the transition to a green economy, supra at 19. The effect of climate change on water resources and programs. Greenhouse gas inventory south africa i preface this report is the result of work commissioned by the department of environmental affairs and tourism deat to develop the 2000 national inventory of.
South africa has relatively high aggregate and per capita greenhouse gas ghg emissions compared to other developing countries, and to world averages. After being in draft format for nearly two years, the national greenhouse gas reporting regulations were published by the minister of environmental affairs on the 3 rd of april 2017. Atmospheric absorption greenhouse effect the greenhouse effect is caused by ir absorbing gases mainly water vapor in the earths atmosphere, which reduce the ef. Greenhouse gas emissions from different crop production and. The ipcc special report on emission scenarios sres generated six. Greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the city of johannesburg. Africa is the continent that contributes the least to global warming in both absolute and per capita terms. For example, methane is 21 times more potent a greenhouse gas than co2. The average annual change during this period was 1. Andrew marquard, senior researcher in the energy research centre. Traceability of greenhouse gases and volatile organic. Blignaut1 abstract an energybased greenhouse gas ghg.
Some of these other greenhouse gases, however, have a much stronger greenhouse, or heattrapping, effect than co2. Carbon emissions are correlated to reservoir age and latitude, with the highest. Scientists may have solved a longstanding enigma known as the african humid period. The primary greenhouse gases in earths atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Greenhouse gases linked to african rainfall sciencedaily. Faostat, 2016 this document is based on information available at the date of publication, and does not reflect official views of the u. Causes of global warming environment news south africa. The annual average concentration of carbon dioxide co 2, the most significant anthropogenic greenhouse gas, increased to 405 and 408 parts per million ppm in 2017 and 2018. Red global greenhouse gas ghg emissions continue to increase, and in 2010 global. This was clearly significant in the context of south africas emissions. South africa makes a significant contribution to the worlds greenhouse gases and must start working on renewable energy sources, the president of the anc says. Greenhouse gas emissions from tropical forest degradation.
This factsheet breaks down greenhouse gas ghg emissions in south africa in 2012 by sector, emissions trends, how emissions relate to gross domestic product gdp and the countrys mitigation strategies. Durban the volume of south africas climatewarming gases has surged by nearly 25 percent over the past 10 years, despite warnings that all countries need to. However, it was recognized that it would be challenging to truly quantify the emissions, because the wastes subject to spontaneous combustion. The report then investigates the policy initiatives in south africa furthering energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and it is noted that south africa has a relatively welldeveloped climate change, energyefficiency policy and legislative framework in place that will impact on the. The vast majority of south africas co 2emissions about. Soils act as sources and sinks for greenhouse gases ghg such as carbon dioxide co 2, methane ch 4, and nitrous oxide n 2 o. However, a recently released draft electricity plan proposes a significant shift away from the fuel, towards gas and renewables. Transportation sector emissions are increasing, but climate change competes with urgent economic, social, and public health concerns for government attention. This factsheet breaks down greenhouse gas ghg emissions in south africa in 2012 by sector, emissions trends, how emissions relate to gross domestic product gdp and the countrys mitigation.
This is the first attempt by south africa to understand greenhouse gas emissions in south africa. Stuart piketh a research project submitted to the faculty of science, university of witwatersrand, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of masters of science in environmental sciences. Overall, we hypothesized a much greater role for salinity and site condition in controlling the suite of greenhouse gases emitted from tidal swamps than we discovered, and found that co2 emissions. A relatively new greenhouse gas threat is nitrous oxide, which occurs natu rally, but has increased markedly as a result of the growing use of synthetic fertilizers. South africas greenhouse gas emissions are high for a developing country, but we are slowly beginning to address this. Apr 11, 2017 after being in draft format for nearly two years, the national greenhouse gas reporting regulations were published by the minister of environmental affairs on the 3 rd of april 2017. Jan 30, 2017 in spite of the great relevance of africa as an agricultural country and the vulnerability of its agroecosystem due to the climate change, very little is known about greenhouse gases emissions in. In this way, they act like the insulating glass walls of a greenhouse. Pdf carbon emission from hydroelectric reservoirs linked to. Hurricanes form in the doldrums of the ocean between latitudes 10 degrees north and 10 degrees south where prevailing lowpressure troughs. To bring all this information together, the united nations formed a group of.
Since both storage and emission capacities may be large, precise. The report then investigates the policy initiatives in south africa furthering energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and it is noted that. South africa, a nonannex 1 developing country, is ranked among the top 20 countries measured by absolute carbon dioxide co 2 emissions. He is a member of the gwpfs academic advisory council. Since both storage and emission capacities may be large, precise quantifications are needed to obtain reliable global budgets that are necessary for landuse management agriculture, forestry, global change and for climate research. Energy related co2 emission per capita, oecd briics, 2000 and 2008. The truth about greenhouse gases the truth about greenhouse gases professor william happer william happer is the cyrus fogg brackett professor of physics at princeton university.
Africa accounts for the smallest share of global greenhouse gas emissions3. Co2 is the principal greenhouse gas, but other gases can have the same heattrapping effect figure 5. Greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the city of. Jul 11, 2017 south africas greenhouse gas emissions are high for a developing country, but we are slowly beginning to address this. In the older african reservoirs, average dissolved methane concentrations. The topex topographic experiment collected information on the changes of the sea level, the temperatures across the globe, and the amount of gases emitted into the atmosphere. Each day, the satellite made 500,000 measurements, each at a different place on the earth. Sa greenhouse emissions up 25% news that connects south. Soils act as sources and sinks for greenhouse gases ghg such as carbon. Transportation sector emissions are increasing, but. The main offenders in terms of greenhouse gas emissions are asia and oceania explanation. South africa emitted 464 million metric tons mtco2e in 2012, with the energy sector contributing 84 percent to overall emissions.
Traceability of greenhouse gases and volatile organic compounds for air monitoring in south africa james tshilongo 1, napo ntsasa 1, silindile lushozi 1,2, mudalo jozela 1,2, goitsemang lekoto. Briics excludes the republic of south africa which is aggregated in the. South africas ghg emissions are among the highest in the world, and its absolute carbon dioxide emissions rank among the top 20 countries, with emissions per capita in the region of 10 metric tons. Climate change indicators in the united states, 2012. The estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from south african. The report is prepared in accordance with the united nations framework. The vast majority of south africas co 2emissions about 80 per cent are produced by the electricity sector, the metals industry and the transport sector. Their ranges extended from 471 pg at high latitudes via 100 pg at mid. To avoid doublecounting with deforestation emissions, only emissions from gfedclassified forest fires within latitudes 23 north and south and. Its co2 emissions are principally due to a heavy reliance on coal.
Jul 31, 2015 the draft greenhouse gas emission reporting regulations envisage the creation of a single national system for the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. Here, i discuss the role of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and water. Greenhouse gases let the suns light shine onto the earths surface, but they trap the heat that reflects back up into the atmosphere. South africa is the worlds 14th largest emitter of greenhouse gases ghgs. Significant amounts of greenhouse gases are emitted, especially in the early years following. Climate change, the periodic modification of earths climate caused by changes in the atmosphere and interactions between the atmosphere and various other geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic. Scientists may have solved a longstanding enigma known as the african humid. Look out for new greenhouse gas regulations cnbc africa. South africas ghg emissions are among the highest in the world, and its absolute carbon dioxide emissions rank among the top 20 countries, with emissions per capita in the region of 10 metric tons per annum. Information on energy and industrial processes was prepared by the energy research centre. Blignaut1 abstract an energybased greenhouse gas ghg emissions inventory for south africa for various years is presented, but most notably an estimate for 2008, in terms of industrial sectors using the energy balances of south. The metropolitan area of johannesburg was formed in 2000 by the merger of five previously independent municipal areas. To create this article, 187 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and. Johannesburg is located in the province of gauteng, which is also home to south africas capital pretoria 62 km north east of.
Dec 04, 2014 greenhouse gases linked to african rainfall date. Some guesstimates of the rate of combustion of old mine workings suggested over 1 mt of co2 per annum. Greenhouse gas emission reporting regulations the first of their kind in sa. Perspectives on the top 20 emitters and developed versus developing nations summary using the world resources institute wri database on greenhouse gas emissions. Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations european. Without it, surface temperatures would be cooler by about 33 degrees celsius. Together, direct emissions related to agriculture worldwide are estimated to make up. The main offenders in terms of greenhouse gas emissions are. However, the data quality for southem asia and africa are poor, and the results for tropical south america, which strongly influence the global estimates, are at the. Aug 18, 2018 the only way to explain the pattern is to include the effect of greenhouse gases ghgs emitted by humans. Andrew marquard, senior researcher in the energy research centre, discusses south africas progress in addressing climate change. To create this article, 187 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time.
Hurricanes form in the doldrums of the ocean between latitudes 10 degrees north and 10 degrees south where prevailing lowpressure troughs notoriously used to leave sailing ships of yore limpsailed and stranded at sea. The estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from south. The greenhouse effect keeps earths climate comfortable. In spite of the great relevance of africa as an agricultural country and the vulnerability of its agroecosystem due to the climate change, very little is known about greenhouse gases emissions. Life on earth depends on the presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to insulate our planets surface against the chill of space. A relatively new greenhouse gas threat is nitrous oxide, which occurs natu rally, but has increased markedly as a result of the growing use of synthetic. Johannesburg is located in the province of gauteng, which is also home to south africas capital pretoria 62 km north east of johannesburg. Measurements were all made between 66 degrees north and south latitudes. Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. South africa s emissions per capita are above the g20 average, whereas our development level measured by the united nations development programmes human development index is below the g20 average. To bring all this information together, the united nations formed a group of scientists called the intergovernmental panel on climate change, or ipcc. The effect of climate change on water resources and.
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