Accurate assessment of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere is important to better understand the global carbon cycle, support the development of climate policies, and project future climate change. Here we describe data sets and a methodology to quantify all major components of the global carbon budget, including their uncertainties, based on the combination of a range of data, algorithms, statistics and model estimates and their interpretation by a broad scientific community. We discuss changes compared to previous estimates, consistency within and among components, alongside methodology and data limitations. CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel combustion and cement production (EFF) are based on energy statistics, while emissions from land-use change (ELUC), mainly deforestation, are based on combined evidence from land-cover change data, fire activity associated with deforestation, and models. The global atmospheric CO2 concentration is measured directly and its rate of growth (GATM) is computed from the annual changes in concentration. The mean ocean CO2 sink (SOCEAN) is based on observations from the 1990s, while the annual anomalies and trends are estimated with ocean models. The variability in SOCEAN is evaluated for the first time in this budget with data products based on surveys of ocean CO2 measurements. The global residual terrestrial CO2 sink (SLAND) is estimated by the difference of the other terms of the global carbon budget and compared to results of independent dynamic global vegetation models forced by observed climate, CO2 and land cover change (some including nitrogen–carbon interactions). All uncertainties are reported as ±1σ, reflecting the current capacity to characterise the annual estimates of each component of the global carbon budget. For the last decade available (2003–2012), EFF was 8.6 ± 0.4 GtC yr−1, ELUC 0.9 ± 0.5 GtC yr−1, GATM 4.3 ± 0.1 GtC yr−1, SOCEAN 2.5 ± 0.5 GtC yr−1, and SLAND 2.8 ± 0.8 GtC yr−1. For year 2012 alone, EFF grew to 9.7 ± 0.5 GtC yr−1, 2.2% above 2011, reflecting a continued growing trend in these emissions, GATM was 5.1 ± 0.2 GtC yr−1, SOCEAN was 2.9 ± 0.5 GtC yr−1, and assuming an ELUC of 1.0 ± 0.5 GtC yr−1 (based on the 2001–2010 average), SLAND was 2.7 ± 0.9 GtC yr−1. GATM was high in 2012 compared to the 2003–2012 average, almost entirely reflecting the high EFF. The global atmospheric CO2 concentration reached 392.52 ± 0.10 ppm averaged over 2012. We estimate that EFF will increase by 2.1% (1.1–3.1%) to 9.9 ± 0.5 GtC in 2013, 61% above emissions in 1990, based on projections of world gross domestic product and recent changes in the carbon intensity of the economy. With this projection, cumulative emissions of CO2 will reach about 535 ± 55 GtC for 1870–2013, about 70% from EFF (390 ± 20 GtC) and 30% from ELUC (145 ± 50 GtC). This paper also documents any changes in the methods and data sets used in this new carbon budget from previous budgets (Le Quéré et al., 2013). All observations presented here can be downloaded from the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (doi:10.3334/CDIAC/GCP_2013_V2.3).

The quality of the environment is obviously important for well-being, not only because of the role it plays as a source of raw materials, now and in the future, but also for human health and because of humans’ appreciation of nature. This chapter presents historical trends in sustainability and environmental quality based on measures of biodiversity and of emissions of CO2 and SO2. It documents long-term declines of biodiversity worldwide, as well as increasing emissions. These indicators are mostly model based: biodiversity measures are derived from the renowned GLOBIO model, while CO2 and SO2 emissions are mostly based on energy production. The chapter describes the assumptions and limitations of both indicators, including a warning about the partial and possibly biased nature of these indices, which give only a glimpse of the complex interactions between humanity and nature.

Accurate assessments of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere is important to better understand the global carbon cycle, support the climate policy process, and project future climate change. Present-day analysis requires the combination of a range of data, algorithms, statistics and model estimates and their interpretation by a broad scientific community. Here we describe datasets and a methodology developed by the global carbon cycle science community to quantify all major components of the global carbon budget, including their uncertainties. We discuss changes compared to previous estimates, consistency within and among components, and methodology and data limitations. CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production (E-FF) are based on energy statistics, while emissions from Land-Use Change (E-LUC), including deforestation, are based on combined evidence from land cover change data, fire activity in regions undergoing deforestation, and models. The global atmospheric CO2 concentration is measured directly and its rate of growth (G(ATM)) is computed from the concentration. The mean ocean CO2 sink (S-OCEAN) is based on observations from the 1990s, while the annual anomalies and trends are estimated with ocean models. Finally, the global residual terrestrial CO2 sink (S-LAND) is estimated by the difference of the other terms. For the last decade available (2002-2011), E-FF was 8.3 +/- 0.4 PgCyr(-1), E-LUC 1.0 +/- 0.5 PgC yr(-1), GATM 4.3 +/- 0.1 PgC yr(-1), S-OCEAN 2.5 +/- 0.5 PgC yr(-1), and S-LAND 2.6 +/- 0.8 PgC yr(-1). For year 2011 alone, E-FF was 9.5 +/- 0.5 PgC yr(-1), 3.0 percent above 2010, reflecting a continued trend in these emissions; E-LUC was 0.9 +/- 0.5 PgC yr(-1), approximately constant throughout the decade; G(ATM) was 3.6 +/- 0.2 PgC yr(-1), S-OCEAN was 2.7 +/- 0.5 PgC yr(-1), and S-LAND was 4.1 +/- 0.9 PgC yr(-1). G(ATM) was low in 2011 compared to the 2002-2011 average because of a high uptake by the land probably in response to natural climate variability associated to La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean. The global atmospheric CO2 concentration reached 391.31 +/- 0.13 ppm at the end of year 2011. We estimate that E-FF will have increased by 2.6% (1.9-3.5 %) in 2012 based on projections of gross world product and recent changes in the carbon intensity of the economy. All uncertainties are reported as +/- 1 sigma (68% confidence assuming Gaussian error distributions that the real value lies within the given interval), reflecting the current capacity to characterise the annual estimates of each component of the global carbon budget. This paper is intended to provide a baseline to keep track of annual carbon budgets in the future.All data presented here can be downloaded from the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (doi:10.3334/CDIAC/GCP_V2013).

Accurate assessments of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere is important to better understand the global carbon cycle, support the climate policy process, and project future climate change. Present-day analysis requires the combination of a range of data, algorithms, statistics and model estimates and their interpretation by a broad scientific community. Here we describe datasets and a methodology developed by the global carbon cycle science community to quantify all major components of the global carbon budget, including their uncertainties. We discuss changes compared to previous estimates, consistency within and among components, and methodology and data limitations. CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production ( EFF) are based on energy statistics, while emissions from LandUse Change ( ELUC), including deforestation, are based on combined evidence from land cover change data, fire activity in regions undergoing deforestation, and models. The global atmospheric CO 2 concentration is measured directly and its rate of growth ( GATM ) is computed from the concentration. The mean ocean CO 2 sink (SOCEAN) is based on observations from the 1990s, while the annual anomalies and trends are estimated with ocean models. Finally, the global residual terrestrial CO 2 sink (SLAND ) is estimated by the di fference of the other terms. For the last decade available (2002–2011), EFF was 8.3±0.4 PgC yr−1, ELUC 1.0±0.5 PgC yr−1, GATM 4.3±0.1 PgC yr−1, SOCEAN 2.5±0.5 PgC yr−1, and SLAND 2.6±0.8 PgC yr−1. For year 2011 alone,EFF was 9.5±0.5 PgC yr−1, 3.0 percent above 2010, reflecting a continued trend in these emissions; ELUC was 0.9±0.5 PgC yr−1, approximately constant throughout the decade;GATM was 3.6±0.2 PgC yr−1, SOCEAN was 2.7±0.5 PgC yr−1, andSLAND was 4.1±0.9 PgC yr−1. GATM was low in 2011 compared to the 2002–2011 average because of a high uptake by the land probably in response to natural climate variability associated to La Ni ña conditions in the Pacific Ocean. The global atmospheric CO 2 concentration reached 391 .31±0.13 ppm at the end of year 2011. We estimate thatEFF will have increased by 2.6 % (1.9–3.5 %) in 2012 based on projections of gross world product and recent changes in the carbon intensity of the economy. All uncertainties are reported as ±1 sigma (68 % confidence assuming Gaussian error distributions that the real value lies within the given interval), reflecting the current capacity to characterise the annual estimates of each component of the global carbon budget. This paper is intended to provide a baseline to keep track of annual carbon budgets in the future. All data presented here can be downloaded from the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (doi:10.3334/CDIAC/GCPV2013).

This study presents a new hypothesis to explain the observed variation of CH4 and δ13C‐CH4 over the last millennium. It was originally proposed that the observed minimum of δ13C‐CH4 prior to the start of industrialization is caused by a large shift in biomass burning emissions between 1400 and 1700 A.D. According to our new hypothesis, however, the δ13C‐CH4 minimum is the first sign of the global rise of anthropogenic CH4 emissions. The main idea is that emissions of isotopically depleted CH4, from, for example, rice cultivation, domestic ruminants, and waste treatment started increasing earlier than the isotopically enriched emissions from fossil fuel, which started with the start of industrialization. However, because the observed increase of atmospheric methane only started around 1750 A.D., these preindustrial anthropogenic emissions must have been accompanied by a net reduction of natural CH4 sources during the Little Ice Age (LIA) compensating for the increase of anthropogenic emissions during that period. Results of transient box model simulations for the last millennium show that under the new hypothesis a close agreement can be obtained between model and measurements. Prior to 1400 A.D., low emissions from anthropogenic biomass burning require a sizable contribution of methane emissions from vegetation to explain the observed high level of δ13C‐CH4. During the Little Ice Age, a larger than expected reduction of natural sources is needed, which calls for further verification using a more sophisticated modeling approach and additional constraints from ice core measurements.

De toenemende activiteiten van RIVM op het gebied van integrale milieu-rapportages en verkenningen heeft de ontwikkeling van een gedegen informatie-infrastructuur tot gevolg gehad. Dit heeft geresulteerd in een verzameling informatie-systemen ten behoeve van de verwerving, verwerking, distributie en presentatie van milieu-gegevens. Deze systemen opereren voornamelijk binnen RIVM, alhoewel de steeds verdergaande samenwerking met externe instituten in binnen- en buitenland een bezinning over het informatie-beleid rechtvaardigt. Ten einde meer bekendheid te geven aan een breed publiek over kenmerken van basisbestanden die nodig zijn voor internationale, integrale milieustudies en -rapportages, wordt jaarlijks een catalogus uitgegeven. Dit rapport vormt de 1996 catalogus van internationale data sets die beschikbaar zijn binnen RIVM.