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Project Code [2000-LS5.1.2a-M1]

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Project title

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change - Impact of Land Use and Land-Use Change on Carbon Emission/Fixation

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

Queen's University Belfast (QUB)

Lead Applicant

Roy Tomlinson

Project Abstract

The Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) opened for signature in 1992 and extended into legally binding commitments at Kyoto in 1997 required countries in the developed world to introduce policies that would return greenhouse gas emissions to their 1990 levels by 2000. The European Union (EU) agreed an 8% reduction on 1990 levels by 2008-12; Irelandis agreed contribution to this aim was a maximum increase (not a reduction because of the stage and expected growth of its economy) of 13% by the 2008-12 commitment period over its 1990 emissions. Within the group of greenhouse gases the EU also agreed to stabilize CO2 emissions at the 1990 level by 2000. Government strategy in Ireland was to limit CO2 emissions to 20% above the 1990 emissions but a net increase of 11% with planned increases in forest carbon sinks.The targets for emissions of greenhouse gases in general and CO2 in particular have been exceeded through growth of population and the economy. Recent estimates of annual emissions have shown that the limit for greenhouse gases had already been reached by the date of the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the total increase to 2001 was 31% (McGettigan and Duffy 2003). In the present economic conditions it is unlikely that emissions from industry vehicles residential growth energy production and other activities that burn fossil fuels will be reduced to meet the targets. Limiting emissions from other sources and increasing sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere into i'sinksi therefore may become important.

Grant Approved

�153,954.47

Research Hub

Climate Change

Research Theme

Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Sinks, and Management Systems

Start Date

01/11/2000

Initial Projected Completion Date

n/a