Greenhouse gases: documentation of statistics

Data description (SIMS 3.1)

The statistics are compiled from emissions data submitted to the EU and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Annual reporting of emissions of the greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol to the Secretariat of the UNFCCC comprises emission and removal estimates in common reporting format (CRF tables) and a related report (National Inventory Report). In addition to the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol supplementing it, greenhouse gases must be reported yearly to the EU. Statistics Finland is the national entity responsible for the greenhouse gas inventory in Finland.

Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)

Biomass-based carbon dioxide (CO2-bio)

Biomass-based carbon dioxide emissions are generated from biomass burning. Biodegradation, for example at landfills and in wastewater treatment, also causes biomass-based CO2 emissions but they are not evaluated separately. Biomass includes wood, biogas, sludge from wastewater treatment and biodegradable waste. In Finland, most of the biomass-based CO2 emissions from burning are generated by burning of black liquor in the forest industry. Burning of other wood-based biomass is also a major source. Biomass-based CO2 emissions from burning are not included in energy sector emissions in the greenhouse gas inventory because they are included in carbon stock changes in the land use sector.

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most significant greenhouse gas produced by humankind. Most carbon dioxide produced by humankind originates from the use of fossil fuels (including oil, coal and natural gas). Another important source of emissions is the destruction of tropical forests and other land-use changes.

Carbon dioxide equivalent

A joint measure of greenhouse gas emissions by which to sum up the effect of various greenhouse gas emissions on the acceleration of the greenhouse effect.

Emission factor

The quantity of a selected emission relative to a specified quantity, often this quantity is a production input, e.g. carbon dioxide equivalent tonne per fuel used.

Emission intensity

Total quantity of a selected emission, expressed as a proportion of a specified quantity. E.g. carbon dioxide equivalent tonnes per value added.

Greenhouse gas

Greenhouse gases reported in the greenhouse gas inventory are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and fluorinated greenhouse gases or F-gases (HFC compounds (hydrofluorocarbons), PFC compounds (perfluorocarbons), sulphur hexafluoride SF6, and nitrogen trifluoride NF3). Other significant greenhouse gases include water vapour, ozone and the so-called CFC and HCFC compounds reported under the Montreal Protocol. Greenhouse gases cause global warming by preventing the heat radiation from the sun from returning into space.

Greenhouse gas inventory reporting sector

In the greenhouse gas inventory, emissions are reported for the following sectors: Energy: energy use of fuels, and evaporative and fugitive emissions related to the production, distribution and consumption of fuels. Industrial processes and product use: emissions released in industrial processes, emissions from the use of raw materials and fuels in raw materials use, emissions from the use of F-gases, and emissions from the use of nitrous oxide in industrial and medical applications. Agriculture: CH4 emissions from livestock enteric fermentation, CH4 and N2O emissions from manure management, N2O emissions from agricultural soils, N2O emissions from field burning of agricultural residues, and CO2 emissions from liming and urea application Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF): CO2 emissions and sinks from the land use categories: forest land, cropland, grassland, wetlands, settlements and other land. Other items reported include emissions from wood products, wildfires and controlled burning, N2O emissions from land converted to cropland, forest fertilisation, drained forest land and peat extraction areas, and CH4 emissions from drained forest land and peat extraction areas. Waste: landfills, composting and wastewater treatment Indirect CO2 emissions from NMVOC and CH4 emissions are also reported for industrial processes and the energy sector.

Key category

The emission category to be prioritised in the national greenhouse gas inventory because it has a significant effect on the country's total greenhouse gas emissions, the volume and/or trend of emissions/removals.

Land use category

The land use category is determined by the primary (principal) or economically most significant mode of land use prevailing above ground level. Land areas are classified by their use and according to what happens on ground level either naturally or as a result of human activity. A certain area can belong to only one land use category. Use of an area refers to its actual use for some purpose, not to its potential or planned use.

Methane (CH4)

Methane is produced in connection with the digestion and decomposition of organic substances, e.g. manure, wastewater sludge or biodegradable waste. In addition, it is generated in livestock enteric fermentation, which is the largest source of methane emissions in the greenhouse gas inventory. In addition to the above, methane is generated in incomplete combustion and evaporates in the processing, transfer and distribution of natural gas and biogas.

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is a substance causing ozone depletion and it is a significant greenhouse gas. Its contribution to the greenhouse gas effect per unit of mass is approximately 300-fold that of carbon dioxide. Agriculture is the biggest source of nitrous oxide emissions.

Recalculation

In connection with changes in the methodological and source data, the standard procedure used in the inventory calculations is to recalculate the estimate by using the same method and uniform source data for all the inventory years to ensure uniformity and consistency.

Removal (from atmosphere)

A carbon sink absorbs some chemical compound that contains carbon, usually carbon dioxide. The most important carbon sinks are the seas and forests. Algae and plants absorb carbon dioxide into biomass in photosynthesis. Biomass growth in forest trees significantly absorbs carbon. Carbon accumulates in litter, dead wood and soil, but it is also released in the decomposition process. Carbon is also dissolved in the sea as carbon dioxide and other inorganic forms.

Sink

Any process, action or mechanism that absorbs greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. A carbon stock to which more carbon accumulates than is released into the atmosphere or transferred to another stock can also be called a sink. The annual accumulation of the carbon stock is called removal (removal of carbon from the atmosphere) for which sink is also used as a synonym, even if it is a question of the annual accumulation of the sink stock.

Source

Any process or action releasing greenhouse gases, aerosols or precursors of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.

UNFCCC

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), signed in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Volatile organic compounds excl. methane (NMVOC)

NMVOC is a generic name for volatile organic compounds that easily vaporise in the atmosphere, excluding methane. Volatile organic compounds are released, for instance, in burning processes and when using solvents. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and NMVOCs react in the presence of sunlight to produce ozone.

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