Canada reported last week that emissions of greenhouse gases declined in 2001 for the first time in a decade and that agriculture played a role in the decline.
Environment Canada reported to the United Nations that greenhouse gas emissions fell 1.3 percent to 720 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
It was the first decline in emissions since 1991 and “the first time that GHG emissions have declined during a period of economic growth since 1990,” according to the department.
“Canada’s gross domestic product grew 1.4 percent in 2001.”
Overall, agriculture’s contribution to the greenhouse gas problem, identified as a contributing factor to global warming and climate change, declined 1.4 percent, according to Environment Canada calculations.
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However, Art Jaques, head of the department’s greenhouse gas division, said reductions were not uniform across the sector.
“There was an increase in release of nitrous oxide and methane,” he said.
“That was more than offset by a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions from soils.”
Over the 1990-2001 period, CO2 emissions from soil decreased by 3.8 percent, according to the Canadian documents filed with the UN agency charged with overseeing implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.
In fact, Jaques said the department calculates that since agricultural soil changed from net emitters to carbon sinks two years ago, it actually takes 300,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent out of the atmosphere every year.
“This is the result of changed farming practices like reduced tillage and reduced summerfallow,” he said. “It has been quite a turn around.”
On other agricultural greenhouse gas fronts, the report is not so positive.
The senior Environment Canada official said emissions of nitrous oxide have increased during the past decade, although its presence varies depending on farm fertilizer use and management practices year to year.
However, methane emissions from Canada’s livestock herd continue to increase, contributing 1.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent to the atmosphere in 2001. Emissions from manure handling added 700,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent to the atmosphere last year.
Federal officials hailed the overall decline in greenhouse gas emissions in 2001 as good news as Canada begins to gear up to meet its Kyoto obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by six percent below 1990 levels by 2012.
Since 1990, emissions have increased 18.5 percent.
