Analysis of differences between national inventories and an Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR)

摘要

A comparison is made of national greenhouse gas inventories for the Climate Convention, (including US country study results) and an emissions database for global atmospheric research (EDGAR). The comparison pointed to some gaps in reporting and some large differences within sectors. In most cases the differences can be traced down to the use of different emission factors or the use of national statistics that differed from the internationally available ones. Comparison of inventories may stimulate the scientific exchange of data and increase the consensus on emissions. This comparison of semi-independent databases may therefore reduce uncertainties in emissions estimates. The exercise illustrated the usefulness of standard reporting formats and the availability of background information other than the official National Communications to the Climate Convention. The comparison may lead to major revisions of officially reported methane emissions in several countries.