Diagnosing anthropogenic carbon emissions: a “CO2 checkup” of Earth’s health
Diagnosing anthropogenic carbon emissions: a "CO2 checkup" of ... EurekAlert
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Sustainable Development Goals and Carbon Emissions Monitoring
Introduction
Since 2020, many countries have pledged their plans for “carbon peak and carbon neutrality”. Managing anthropogenic emissions, especially from major industries, is crucial for addressing global warming and promoting sustainable growth. However, existing emission records lack transparency and accuracy due to limited knowledge of CO2 emissions from cities and key sectors, leading to uncertainty in the global carbon budget and hindering carbon asset management across industries.
The Role of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
To ensure precise carbon emission data, the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories advocates using atmospheric measurements and inversion techniques for validating and improving emission inventories. Given the complexity of anthropogenic emissions, continuous high-quality monitoring of atmospheric CO2 concentrations is essential.
Research on Carbon Emissions Monitoring
Recent research conducted by Dr. Dongxu Yang and his team from the Carbon Neutral Research Centre at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAP, CAS), is shedding light on the critical issue of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions and their impact on the Earth’s climate. They conducted a campaign in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, and Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, focusing on monitoring greenhouse gas emissions from urban and vital sectors.
The Low-cost UAV Coordinated Carbon Observation Network (LUCCN)
During this campaign, they established the Low-cost UAV Coordinated Carbon Observation Network (LUCCN) equipped with medium-accurate greenhouse gas sensors for CO2 measurements. LUCCN combines ground-based and UAV-based in-situ measurement instruments, enhancing the detection and quantification capability of point source emissions in three dimensions.
Challenges and Future Research
Dr. Yang said that existing and even near future satellite measurements cannot meet the frequent monitoring requirements for anthropogenic emissions due to cloud cover, aerosols, and revisit patterns. Therefore, the development of an adaptable observation network is crucial for accurate monitoring and data collection on greenhouse gas emissions.
Following data collection, conversion of CO2 concentration data into emission intensity is essential for validating emission inventories. The research utilized the UAV-measured data to calculate emission flux using a cross-sectional flux (CSF) method, resulting in a slightly overestimate than the Open-source Data Inventory for Anthropogenic CO2 inventory (ODIAC) due to data limitations associated with UAV in-situ measurements. ODIAC is a global high-resolution emission data product for fossil fuel CO2 emissions, originally developed under the Greenhouse gas Observing SATellite (GOSAT) project at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan. This discrepancy underscores the current challenge of UAV-based measurements.
The study showcases LUCCN’s requirements and accomplishments and provides insights for future quantitative research into anthropogenic emissions. Nonetheless, the UAV sampling strategy and emission estimation methods require further exploration. “We are now developing a measurement-fed-perception self-adaptation network strategy for the LUCCN system to improve monitoring efficiency, and atmospheric inversion will be applied to enhance emission estimates. These tasks are essential for monitoring anthropogenic emissions,” said Dr. YANG Dongxu.
Conclusion
The initial findings of the campaign are published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
The article discusses the importance of managing anthropogenic emissions to address global warming and promote sustainable growth. This aligns with SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Additionally, the article mentions the need for accurate emission inventories and monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions, which relates to SDG 9, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
- SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
The article emphasizes the need for accurate emission inventories and monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions. By integrating atmospheric measurements and inversion techniques into emission inventories, countries can improve the accuracy of their data and make informed decisions regarding climate change mitigation strategies. This aligns with SDG 13.2. Additionally, the development of an adaptable observation network, such as the Low-cost UAV Coordinated Carbon Observation Network (LUCCN), contributes to upgrading infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialization, as mentioned in SDG 9.4.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator: Accuracy of emission inventories
- Indicator: Frequency and quality of greenhouse gas monitoring
- Indicator: Development and implementation of adaptable observation networks
The article highlights the importance of accurate emission inventories and the need for continuous high-quality monitoring of greenhouse gas concentrations. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards integrating climate change measures into national policies and upgrading infrastructure. Additionally, the development and implementation of adaptable observation networks, such as LUCCN, serve as indicators of progress towards sustainable industrialization and innovation.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | – Accuracy of emission inventories – Frequency and quality of greenhouse gas monitoring |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable | – Frequency and quality of greenhouse gas monitoring – Development and implementation of adaptable observation networks |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: eurekalert.org
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