CAN WE IMPROVE ESTIMATES OF N2O EMISSIONS IN ARGENTINA?

Publications

CAN WE IMPROVE ESTIMATES OF N2O EMISSIONS IN ARGENTINA?

The use of default and homogeneous emission factors throughout the country in the estimation of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions _derived from the application of synthetic fertilizers in the Greenhouse Gas Inventories of Argentina, does not allow to reflect the local productive characteristics and their regional differences. The objectives of this work were: a) to disaggregate the information of the data of synthetic nitrogen (N) applied by region, crop and climate and b) to analyze and synthesize the status of Argentine research in the development of local emission factors (EF). For the first objective, a methodology was developed to disaggregate the data of N applied by jurisdiction and crop. For the second, a compilation of scientific works published in national and international journals was carried out. The data on N application by jurisdiction and crop was disaggregated by cross-referencing different sources of information. 36.7% of the N applied nationwide is concentrated in the Province of Buenos Aires, 26.3% in Córdoba, 12% in Santa Fe and 7.3% in Entre Ríos. Corn ( Zea mays L.) and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) are the crops with the highest N application, 33.9% and 23.3%, respectively. On the other hand, we found 11 works that allow proposing emission factors to estimate direct N ₂ O emissions from experimental data, and 15 that allow estimating the volatilization or leaching fractions that result in indirect N ₂ O emissions. The average values ​​estimated and reported from the literature were: 0.0124 kg N ₂ O–N (kg N) ^-1 (direct N ₂ O EF), 0.081 kg volatilized N (kg N) ^-1 (volatilization fraction) and 0.244 kg N (kg N) ^-1 (leaching fraction). These average values ​​differ by up to 25% from those currently used in the National Inventory.

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Publications

Greenhouse gas emissions from sheep in Argentina: use of method IPCC tier 2

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sheep activity that Argentina reports in its national inventories are estimated using tier 1 calculation method of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). This tier uses emission factors by default, so it does not reflect local production characteristics. The accuracy of the estimates could be improved by developing local emission
factors using the IPCC tier 2 method. The objectives of this study were: (1) to know the GHG emissions from sheep farming in Argentina through the application of tier 2, (2) compare the estimated emissions with tier 2 approach with the tier 1 method, and (3) study the effect changing production parameters on emissions through a sensitivity analysis. For this, the production
of the main sheep areas of the country was characterized, and these areas were grouped into 10 relatively homogeneous regions that comprised 80% of the national stock. In these regions, emissions for the year 2019 were estimated using tier 2 of the year 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines. Estimates of GHG emissions from sheep activity in Argentina resulted
in 2,49 mega tons of CO2eq. In relation to tier 1, tier 2 implied an increase in estimated emissions of 24,7%. In particular, the enteric fermentation emission factor ranged between 6.5 and 8,1 kg CH4/sheep year (with an average value of 6,7). The parameters with the greatest impact on GHG emissions were digestibility of the diet and weight of the animals. Understanding the variables that impact GHG emissions provided by tier 2 is essential for the development of mitigation measures.

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Publications

Nitrous oxide emission estimation from managed soils in Argentina: differences between IPCC 2006 guidelines and the IPCC 2019 refinement

Based on the IPCC 2006 guidelines, the total GHG emission for 2016, in Argentina, were estimated to reach a total net 364 MtCO 2eq. Particularly, N2O emissions from managed soils sector represented 12% of total emissions. The IPCC 2019 refinement to the 2006 guidelines for GHG inventories provides an up-to-date and robust scientific basis to support the preparation and continuous improvement of estimates. The aims of the present work were to carry out a desk study to estimate nitrous oxide emissions from managed soils, using the IPCC 2019 and to compare this methodology with the one currently used for national GHG inventories (IPCC 2006) in Argentina. The nitrogen sources accounted for GHG emissions were: (i) synthetic fertilizer, (ii) crop residues, (iii) mineralization from soil organic matter, (iv) urine and dung from grazing animals, and (v) organic fertilizer. The adoption of the updated emission factors from the 2019 IPCC refinement would have a significant impact on the estimation of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Compared to the 2006 IPCC guidelines, the application of these factors in Argentina would lead to decrease emissions from managed soils in 18.95 MtCO2eq, representing a 46% reduction for this category. This reduction would be significant in the greenhouse gases (GHG) inventories of Argentina (by approximately 5%), and for other countries with similar economies. These changes might affect the prioritization of mitigation actions for the analyzed categories, when considering cost and benefits.

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Newsletters

Who’s Counting Newsletter, Issue 13, August 2024

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Tools & Applications

Climate Watch – Explore Nationally Determined Contributions

Under the Paris Agreement, nearly every nation made a commitment to tackle climate change and strengthen their efforts over time. The last round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) were submitted in 2020-2021 whereas the deadline to submit the next round of NDCs is in the spring of 2025. Explore the content of 2020-2021 NDCs by searching for relevant keywords. You can analyse and compare NDCs using over 150 structured indicators.

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Publications

CEPA strategy guidance note on the Science policy interface – March 2021

The United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) has developed a set of principles of effective governance for sustainable development. The essential purpose of these voluntary principles is to provide interested countries with practical, expert guidance on a broad range of governance challenges associated with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. CEPA has identified 62 commonly used strategies to assist with the operationalization of these principles. This guidance note addresses the science-policy interface, which is associated with the principle of sound policy making and can contribute to strengthening the effectiveness of institutions. It is part of a series of such notes prepared by renowned experts under the overall direction of the CEPA Secretariat in the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

In reading this guidance note, individuals in government ministries and agencies who are less familiar with the topic will be able to understand the fundamentals. Those who have perhaps taken initial steps in this area with limited follow-through or impact will be able to identify how to adjust elements of their practice to achieve better results and to better embed and institutionalize the strategy in their organizations. Those who are more advanced in building the science-policy interface will be able to recognize the practices which contribute to its success.

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Publications

Knowledge brokering at the environmental science-policy interface — examining structure and activity

Sirkku Juhola, Essi Huotari, Liisa Kolehmainen, Outi Silfverberg, Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki

The environmental science-policy interface, consisting of dynamic interactions between various actors, is increasingly an object of study. In this interface, new types and kinds of boundary organisations are emerging and new types of knowledge brokering are taking place. Given the increasing calls for more evidence-based policy, it is pertinent to examine what type of SPI can be identified at the national level, how knowledge is brokered in it and how boundary organisations function and are positioned within the network. To do this, we
utilise a mixed method approach, combining a survey questionnaire and interviews as data collection methods with social network analysis and qualitative content analysis to examine the national science-policy interface in the environmental domain in Finland. Our results show a centralised network with weak reciprocal links. The network is centred more around knowledge brokers and users than knowledge producers. In this network, knowledge is mainly brokered through media and personal communication, with no single actor group assuming responsibility. The boundary organisation studied here engages in brokering activities and actively creates venues for knowledge brokering. Our findings are in line with previous research, demonstrating the need for further strengthening of not only the structural foundations of the science-policy interface, but also of the actors engaging in knowledge brokering.

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Publications

Knowledge brokers within the multiple streams framework: The science-policy interface for livestock and climate change discussions in Kenya

Laura Cramer, Todd Crane, Art Dewulf

Livestock production is affected by climate change, but also contributes to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. This leads to ambiguity in how livestock are framed in climate and development policy processes. We use the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF) to investigate the role of knowledge brokers in Kenyan livestock and climate change policy processes. We analyse how knowledge brokers deal with ambiguity from different problem and response framings within science-policy interfaces using the case of a project that seeks to inform Kenyan policies relevant to livestock and climate change. We identify ambiguity within the problem stream where actors recognise adaptation and mitigation as dual challenges of livestock and climate change. This ambiguity creates tension between actors but can be strategically deployed to help match the problem and policy streams. Actors use the terms ‘climate smart’ and ‘co-benefits’ to link the dual adaptation and mitigation needs. In the political stream, nationally defined priorities and external funding possibilities influence the political will and motivation to adopt identified response options. There are opportunities for knowledge brokers to address the ambiguities and translate knowledge during windows of opportunity when the streams are being coupled, but challenges exist, resulting in slow and inadequate development of policies. This paper makes two contributions to the MSF literature. First, we further refine the concept of knowledge brokers and establish their role across all three streams. Second, we apply the MSF in a lower income country and demonstrate that international organizations must be among the actors considered.

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