Overview of Cplan methodology
In order to have credibility we decided to use 2006 IPCC Guidelines which provides methodologies for estimating national inventories of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases. The analysis is performed using CO2-equivalent emissions estimated using the global warming potentials for the three gases most associated with land-based industries (carbon dioxide - CO2, nitrous oxide - N2O and methane - CH+). The key category evaluation is performed for each of these gases separately because the methods, emission factors and related uncertainties differ for each gas. (Fig. 1)
Carbon dioxide
CO2, fluxes between the atmosphere and ecosystems are primarily controlled by uptake through plant photosynthesis and releases via respiration, decomposition and combustion of organic matter.
Nitrous oxide
N2O is primarily emitted from ecosystems as a by-product of nitrification and denitrification.
Methane
CH4 is primarily emitted through methanogenesis under anaerobic conditions in soils and manure storage, through enteric fermentation (farting and burping), and during incomplete combustion while burning organic matter.
Other gases
Other gases of interest (from combustion and from soils) are NOx, NH3, NMVOC and CO, because they are precursors for the formation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Formation of greenhouse gases from precursor gases is considered an indirect emission in IPCC methodology. Indirect emissions are also associated with leaching or runoff of nitrogen compounds, particularly NO3- losses from soils, some of which can be subsequently converted to N2O through denitrification.