DYNAMICS OF NITROUS OXIDE EMISSIONS FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES IN BULGARIA

Rozalina Chuturkova, Maya Stefanova

Abstract: Within the present research inventory data has been analyzed regarding nitrous oxide emissions from different source categories in Bulgaria for the period 2000-2012. The major N2O emission source is agriculture with almost 45 % of the overall N2O emissions for the monitoring period. In order to reduce N2O emissions from agriculture adequate measures need to be applied towards improvement of agricultural land’s quality, restructure and modernization of farms and competitiveness increase. N2O emissions from power sector are almost 16 % of the overall N2O emissions in Bulgaria for the monitoring period and their reduction require measures for improving national energetic infrastructure, diversifying the energy mix and supply sources. A solid trend for N2O emission reduction from the sectors of Industrial processes and Road transport has been observed due to the effective European and national legal restrictions and regulatory mechanisms. Regions at risk in Bulgaria have been defined where industrial and combustion sources of N2O are concentrated and thus ambient air quality might be significantly deteriorated. Applying preventive measures for greenhouse gas (including N2O) emission reduction is a step towards fulfillment of Bulgaria’s commitment under the Kyoto Protocol and the Durban Platform. For the period 2013-2020 Bulgaria has committed itself into achieving the basic strategic targets of the European Union for 20 % reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, 20 % enhancement of the energy efficiency and 20 % share of energy from renewable energy sources in the total energy consumption. The ambitious target of the European Union on climate change is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with 80 % below their 1990 level by 2050.

Keywords: emission source categories, emission reduction measures, greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide, regions at risk

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0312018