Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals in Hungary

Abstract

This paper presents an interim report on Hungarian greenhouse gas emissions, completed within the framework of the U.S. Country Studies Program. Calculations are based on the IPCC Methodology. Hungary has chosen 1985–1987 as the base period for calculations of emissions rather than 1990, the recommended base year. However, calculations were also completed for 1990, which is considered here as a reference year. Hungary intends to stabilize its greenhouse gas emissions at the base-period level, because Article 4.6 of the Framework Convention on Climate Change allows countries with economies in transition the flexibility to select a base year other than 1990. This preliminary inventory presents the following emissions and removals: carbon dioxide from fuel combustion, non-carbon dioxide gases from fuel (including biofuels) combustion, non-carbon dioxide gases from power generation, methane from fugitive energy sources, carbon dioxide from cement production, methane from enteric fermentation, animal wastes, and rice cultivation, and carbon dioxide removal by forests. These preliminary results show that the greenhouse gas emissions were at least 15 percent lower in 1990 than in the selected base period. Forests act as a sink of carbon dioxide, accounting for 4 to 5 percent of the emitted carbon dioxide. The final and extended version of the inventory will have been completed by the end of 1995.