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Estimation and projection of nitrous oxide (N(2)O) emissions from anthropogenic sources in Taiwan.

Tsai WT, Chyan JM

Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 717, Taiwan, ROC.

Taiwan is a densely populated and developed country with more than 97% of energy consumption supplied by imported fuels. Greenhouse gas emissions are thus becoming significant environmental issues in the country. Using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommended methodologies, anthropogenic emissions of nitrous oxide (N(2)O) in Taiwan during 2000-2003 were estimated to be around 41 thousand metric tons annually. About 87% of N(2)O emissions come from agriculture, 7% from the energy sector, 3% from industrial processes sector, 3% from waste sector. On the basis of N(2)O emissions in 2000, projections for the year 2010 show that emissions were estimated to decline by about 6% mainly due to agricultural changes in response to the entry of WTO in 2002. In contrast to projections for the year 2020, N(2)O emissions were projected to grow by about 17%. This is based on the reasonable scenario that a new adipic acid/nitric acid plant will be probably started after 2010.

Published 20 March 2006 in Chemosphere, 63(1): 22-30.
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