Table 4.7 - European anthropogenic emissions and global anthropogenic and natural emissions for selected atmospheric compounds, 1990/91 (megatonnes/year)

Sources: See table

Species European emissions Global emissions European contribution to
global anthropogenic
emissions (%)5
Anthropogenic Natural
CO2 80703 27 8701,2 ­4 30
CH4 553 3352 1552,7 16
CFCs8 0.53 1.43 ­ 36
N2O 0.53 76 156 7
NOx (as NO2) 2210 89­1252 23­1312 21*
CO 1253 11003,11 70­2802,7 11*
VOC (NMHC)** 2512 1001 11001 25*
SO2 3910 142­1662 14­209 25*

Notes:

This table does not represent the large differences in per capita or unit area emission rates, particularly found between European countries of the OECD and those with former planned economies. Furthermore, recent developments are modifying these differences.

** VOC = volatile organic compounds; NMHC = non-methane hydrocarbons

  1. IPCC (1990a).
  2. IPCC (1992); anthropogenic sources include fossil fuel combustion, cement production and deforestation.
  3. SEI (1992). These are country estimates for Europe + (0.5 x the former USSR). The global estimates of SEI (1992) agree with the IPCC (1992) assessment for fossil combustion related emissions and for CFCs. The global estimates for CH4 from landfills and from a number of land-use related sources of CH4 and N2O of SEI (1992) show a disagreement with IPCC (1992). Apparently, the uncertainty in the European estimates is greater than in global estimates.
  4. Natural sinks and sources of CO2 far outweigh anthropogenic emissions. Note that deforestation is included in the anthropogenic emission estimate.
  5. Where indicated with a * the European contribution is given, but global estimates are highly uncertain.
  6. Khalil and Rasmussen (1992).
  7. CH4 and CO sinks have not been included.
  8. Indicated as CFC-11 equivalents.
  9. This estimate includes only volcanic emissions, and not demethylsulphide (DMS) from oceans and DMS and H2S from soils and vegetation.
  10. Sandnes and Styve (1992).
  11. Crutzen and Zimmermann (1991), also presented in IPCC (1992).
  12. Simpson and Styve (1992). Estimate includes mainly non-methane anthropogenic volatile organic compounds. It may, however, include minor amounts of CH4 and natural emissions for parts of Europe.