AN INVENTORY OF GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS IN BANGLADESH - INITIAL RESULTS

In this paper, we present an inventory of greenhouse gas sources and s inks in Bangladesh for the year 1990. Because CO2 is believed to be th e principal contributor to global climate change worldwide, and energy use is the largest source of CO2 emissions, much effort was made to a nalyze the Bangladesh energy system. Carbon emissions and carbon uptak e in forests were also accounted for. Emissions of methane from agricu lture, livestock, and urban landfill waste were also included in the i nventory. In 1990, energy production using fossil fuels accounted for 15.5 Tg of CO2 emissions. Carbon emissions resulting from forestry wer e also calculated. It was found that about 5.46 Tg of carbon was remov ed/consumed from the forest sources in 1990. On the other hand, about 12.32 Tg of carbon was taken up in forests. Based on these numbers, wh ich exclude bamboo, the forests of Bangladesh acted as a net sink for approximately 6.86 Tg of carbon in 1990. Methane emissions in 1990 fro m flooded rice cultivation ranged between 257 and 622 Gg, with a media n of 439 Gg CH4. Methane emissions from the livestock sector were abou t 453 Gg CH4. About 5.92 Gg CH4 are emitted due to venting, flaring, a nd transmission and distribution of natural gas. Methane emissions fro m landfilled wastes in the major urban areas of Bangladesh contributed approximately 74 Gg CH4.