ANTHROPOGENIC EMISSIONS OF NITROUS-OXIDE (N2O) FROM EUROPE

Anthropogenic nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Europe, and Asiatic Turkey, are estimated for the period 1960-2040. Between 1960 and 1985 these emissions are found to have doubled to 1059 kton N2O-N/year. For future emissions three scenarios are defined: a no reduction scenario, where current trends continue; an acid reduction scenario, reflecting the implementation of maximum feasible technology to reduce acidification; and an optimistic scenario, in which both N2O and acidifying emissions are strongly reduced. In the no reduction and acid reduction scenario anthropogenic N2O emissions increase to 1199 and 1274 kton N2O-N/year by 2040, respectively. Thus technologies to reduce acidification are calculated to cause a net increase in N2O emissions. In the optimistic scenario 534 kton N2O-N is emitted annually from 2020. A climate goal, aiming to limit future global warming to 0.1-degrees-C/decade, is calculated to require a stabilization of anthropogenic European emissions at 221 kton N2O-N/year (based on a pro rata contribution of greenhouse gases to emission reductions, and worldwide equal per capita N2O emissions). In all three scenarios N2O emissions exceed 221 kton N2O-N/year. In order to meet their goal, countries need to cut anthropogenic emissions by 59-90% relative to 1985, and by 40-63% relative to 2040 in the optimistic scenario.