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Greenhouse Gases Print E-mail

2.1  The UN Kyoto Protocol 

    • This is an amendment to the international treaty on climate change that took place in Kyoto, Japan in 1997.

    • The 40 developed countries, plus the “European Communiity”, that ratified the protocol agreed to reduce their collective emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases by at least 5% (the “Annex 1 Parties to the Convention”).

    • This was to be achieved by the period 2008-2012. 

    • By mid 2007 the protocol also included 149 less-developed countries who have no emission reduction obligations. 

    • The Kyoto Protocol entered into force in February 2005 when it was ratified, as required, by “at least 55 parties to the convention”.

    • In 2006 the Kyoto Protocol covered over 55% of global greenhouse gas  emissions.

2.2  The Six Greenhouse Gases

    • The three most important greenhouse gases, in order of significance, are:

      • Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Mainly from burning fossil fuels.

      • Methane (CH4): The result of natural gas processing, livestock operations, solid waste dumps and pipeline leaks.

      • Nitrous Oxide (N20): Mainly from fertiliser use.

    • The other three gases are: (1) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). (2) Perfluorocarbons (PFCs). (3) Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6).

    • Note: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are covered by the 1987 Montreal Protocol.
 2.3  CO2

    • The combustion of hydrocarbons (petroleum fuels) produces CO2.

    • The amount of CO2 emitted by a vehicle is measured in grams per kilometer (g/km) or grams per mile (g/mi).  

2.4  Vehicle Emissions

    • In order of importance the three most important greenhouse gases associated with vehicles are:

      • Carbon Dioxide.  

      • Methane.

      • Nitrous Oxide.  

    • Overall emission levels for petrol powered cars are being reduced partly by the increased use of three-way catalytic converters and fuel injection systems. Overall emission levels for diesel vehicles are also being reduced by the development of direct injection engines and diesel particulate filters.

    • Note: Diesel powered cars typically emit about 20% fewer greenhouse gases than petrol powered cars. 

2.5  The European Union (EU)

    • The EU ratified the Kyoto Protocol in May 2002.  

    • Emission reduction figures in the EU have included the voluntary figure of 140 g/km (2008) and proposed mandatory figures of 130 g/km (2012) and 80 g/km (2020).

    • The average figure for new cars in Europe in 1995 was 185 g/km. This figure reduced to 162 g/km in 2005.  

    • Transport produced 28% of the EU's CO2 emissions in 2004, with cars accounting for about 10% of all CO2 emissions.  

2.6  The United States

    • In the United States a “Greenhouse Gas Score” is used to indicate a vehicle’s CO2 exhaust emission, where 10 is the best. It is determined from the vehicle’s estimated fuel economy and the type of fuel used. 

2.7   Vehicles With Low CO2 Emission

    • Vehicles with the lowest CO2 emissions in 2005  include:

      • Honda Insight                Petrol-electric        80g/km
      • Toyota Prius                   Petrol-electric       104g/km
      • Citroen C2 1.4 Hdi           Diesel                    107g/km
      • Citroen C1 1.0i                   Petrol                   109g/km
      • Peugeot 107 Urban          Petrol                   109g/km
      • Toyota Avgo                       Petrol                    109g/km

    • Note: In 2002 the CO2 figure of a typical compact car was 150 g/km, 248g/km for large car and 350g/km for a typical pick-up truck.
 




 

 
 
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