Importance of non-CO2 emissions in carbon management

Importance of non-CO2 emissions in carbon management

Type	Journal Article
Author	Alice Bows-Larkin
Author	Carly McLachlan
URL	Free Full Text Source:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17583004.2014.913859
Volume	5
Issue	2
Pages	193-210
Publication	Carbon Management
Date	March 4, 2014
Abstract	GHG budgets highlight a need for urgency, yet analyses are often CO2-focused, with less attention paid to non-CO2. Authors present scenarios to explore non-CO2 drivers and barriers to their mitigation, drawing out implications for CO2 management. Results suggest that even optimistic technological and consumption-related developments lead to on-going increases in global N2O, largely to improve food security within a changing climate. This contrasts with existing analysis, where lower levels of N2O by 2050 are projected. As avoiding ‘2ｰC’ limits the emissions budget, constraints on reducing non-CO2 add pressure to energy system decarbonization. Overlooking how a changing climate and rising consumption restricts efforts to curb non-CO2 will result in policies aiming to avoid 2ｰC falling short of the mark.