Study: Arkansas forests absorb more gas than they emit

The Trucker News Services

10/23/2008

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Consultants for the Arkansas Governor's Commission on Global Warming conducted the first study on greenhouse gas emissions in Arkansas that contribute to global warming.

The Kentucky-based Center for Climate Strategies finalized its work this month. Findings from the center's 114-page inventory included most greenhouse gases in Arkansas come from the use of electricity from coal-fired power plants and the everyday use of cars and trucks. Electricity consumption and transportation together accounted for 58 percent of Arkansas' greenhouse gas emissions in 2005.

Arkansas greenhouse gases accounted for 1.2 percent of the national total in 2005 and 1 percent after figuring in the absorption of carbon dioxide by Arkansas forests, which cover 56 percent of the state's land area, act as a "carbon sink," absorbing more greenhouse gas than they emit.

The amount of greenhouse gas emissions is rising in Arkansas at a faster rate than the nation as a whole. The state total rose about 30 percent from 1990 to 2005 compared with 16 percent for the nation during the same period.

The center looked at six types of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming in Arkansas: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydroflurocarbons, perflourocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. Greenhouse gas emissions are expressed in million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, or MMtCO2e. Related findings were:

Arkansas had 85 MMtCO2e gross emissions in 2005. Arkansas forests and land stored about 21 MMtCO2e that year, resulting in net emissions of 65 MMtCO2e. The net was a 136 percent increase in net greenhouse gas emissions in 1990.

If Arkansas takes no steps to reduce emissions, the gross figure will amount to about 114 MMtCO2e by 2025, or 74 percent above 1990 levels. The net figure will come to about 93 MMtCO2e in 2025 for a 242 percent increase over 1990 levels.

Arkansas per capita emissions are greater than the national rate. Arkansas residents emitted about 28 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 1990, compared with the national per-capita average of 25 metric tons. The Arkansas per-capita figure increased to 31 metric tons in 2005, while the national rate fell to 24.