Emissions of black carbon and organic carbon in Norway 1990-2011

Limiting anthropogenic climate change and improving air quality are two of the most important environmental challenges facing humankind. Warming effects of Black Carbon (BC) have caught the attention of climate scientists and policy makers. Scientists suggest that BC is likely to be the second most important contributor, after carbon dioxide, to global warming (UNEP 2009).

Statistics Norway was commissioned by the Norwegian Climate and Pollution agency (Klif) to develop national Black Carbon (BC) and OC (Organic Carbon) emissions inventories for the period 1990-2011.

In this project, the objective has been to develop a methodology for calculating emissions of black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC) for the period 1990-2011, and to describe the method used. The data employed encompass the activity date used in the Norwegian emission inventory and emission factors for particulate matter, BC and OC.

Emissions of BC and OC in Norway have been estimated based on the national emissions of PM _2.5 reported to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP). Emissionis of BC and OC are estimated on source and fuel basis. Source specific emission factors have been used for wood combustion in residential sector and for flaring, in order to estimate other emissions on a source and fuel basis, fractions of BC and OC of emitted PM from IIASA have been used in combination with Norwegian PM _2.5 emission factors.

Estimated total emissions in Norway of BC and OC in 2011 were 5,100 tonnes and 19,900 tonnes respectively. The most important source for emission of both BC and OC is domestic wood combustion. In 2011, residential combustion was responsible for 23 and 83 per cent of the total respectively. Emissions of BC rose by 2 per cent in the period 1990-2011, whereas emissions of OC decreased by 3 per cent.

This work has been carried out with major contributions from the Climate and Pollution Agency (Klif). They have funded the work, and has provided input data and relevant literature. Most importantly, Klif has developed new emission factors for BC and OC through a separate project (Seljeskog, Goile et al. 2013).

A summary in Norwegian is available; Appendix E