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International Analyses

Non-CO₂ greenhouse gases are a significant contributor to climate change. Figure 1 shows the global contribution of human-related greenhouse gas emissions to the enhanced greenhouse gas effect since Preindustrial times. Approximately 30% of the human-induced greenhouse effect can be attributed to the non-CO₂ greenhouse gases. EPA collects data on international historical and projected greenhouse gas emissions and estimates the costs of reducing these emissions, and has issued several analytical reports on international emissions projections and mitigation opportunities for the non-CO₂ greenhouse gases.

Figure 1: Contribution of anthropogenic emissions of
greenhouse gases to the enhanced greenhouse effect from preindustrial to present (measured in watts/meter2).
Contributions are: Carbon Dioxide 69.6%, Methane 22.9%, Nitrous Oxide 7.1% and High-GWP Gasses 0.4%
Source: IPCC, 2001

EPA reports on this page have undergone an external peer review consistent with the guidelines of the EPA Peer Review Policy. Comments were received from experts in the private sector, academia, non-governmental organizations, and other government agencies. See the Acknowledgments sections of the individual reports for a list of reviewers. You may download a copy of the EPA Peer Review guidelines.

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Global Mitigation of Non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gases (EPA Report 430-R-06-005)

Since non-CO₂ greenhouse gases can be relatively inexpensive to reduce compared to carbon dioxide (CO₂), EPA has focused on incorporating international non-CO₂ greenhouse gas mitigation into analysis and policy discussions. EPA prepared a global cost analysis of all non-CO₂ greenhouse gases. The basic methodology - a bottom up, engineering cost approach - is the same as was followed in the Energy Modeling Forum report as described below, unless otherwise noted. The results of this analysis are marginal abatement curves (MACs) that reflect aggregated breakeven prices for implementing mitigation options in a given sector and region. The MACs allows for improved understanding of the mitigation potential for non-CO₂ sources, as well as inclusion of non-CO₂ greenhouse gas mitigation in economic modeling of multigas mitigation strategies. The MAC data sets can be downloaded in spreadsheet format using the “Data Annexes” link below. The final report based on this analysis can also be downloaded using the links below.

Download the full color version of the report:

Global Mitigation of Non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gases (PDF, 438 pp., 5.8 MB)

Download the individual sections of the report:

Cover & Table of Contents (PDF, 28 pp., 720 kb)

Executive Summary (PDF, 6 pp., 153 kb)

Section I: Technical Summary (PDF, 30 pp., 311 kb)

Section II: Energy (PDF, 46 pp., 450 kb)

Section III: Waste (PDF, 28 pp., 290 kb)

Section IV: Industrial Processes (PDF, 222 pp., 3.6 MB)

Section V: Agriculture (PDF, 78 pp., 840 kb)

Download the section appendixes:

Section Appendices (PDF, 132 pp., 4.1 MB)

Guide to Appendices (PDF, 1 pp., 14 kb)

Download the data annex:

Data Annexes (WinZip format containing Zipped XL Spreadsheet files, 5.4 MB)

Guide to Data Annex (PDF, 1 pp., 13 kb)

Report to Energy Modeling Forum

The first USEPA non-CO₂ mitigation cost study was a global analysis of methane and nitrous oxide abatement. The work was conducted as part of a larger study conducted by the Stanford Energy Modeling Forum on Multi-gas Mitigation and Climate Change:

International Analysis of Methane and Nitrous Oxide Abatement Opportunities: Report to Energy Modeling Forum, Working Group 21 (PDF, 9 pp., 76 kb)
Appendices

Global Anthropogenic Emissions of Non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gases 1990-2020 (EPA Report 430-R-06-003)

This report (PDF, 274 pp., 4 MB) provides historical and projected estimates of emissions from over 90 countries and 8 regions for all major non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emission sources. The gases included in this report are methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and the high global warming potential (high GWP) gases. The high GWP gases in clude hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆). Historical estimates are reported for 1990, 1995, and 2000 and projections of emissions, including the achieved effects of sector-level climate policy measures at the time of this report, are provided for 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. Historical and future trends are shown by region and by gas.

The data by country, region, and gas can also be found in the Appendix Spreadsheets (WinZip format containing Zipped XL Spreadsheet files, 361 kb).

For more information on the scope of the analyses above please contact Christa Clapp at clapp.christa@epa.gov.

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