Revealing the global emission gaps for fully fluorinated greenhouse gases

• Published in: Scientific reports 2024-04, Vol.14 (1), p.8753-8753, Article 8753
• Main Authors: Guo, Liya, Fang, Xuekun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 704/106; 704/172; Climate change; Emissions; Greenhouse gases; Humanities and Social Sciences; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Trends
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58504-x

In response to the global trend of climate change, it is important to accurately quantify emissions of fully fluorinated greenhouse gases (FFGHGs, referring to SF 6 /NF 3 /CF 4 /C 2 F 6 /C 3 F 8 / c -C 4 F 8 here). Atmospheric observation-based top-down methods and activity-based bottom-up methods are usually used together to estimate FFGHG emissions at the global and regional levels. In this work, emission gaps at global and regional levels are discussed among top-down studies, between the top-down and bottom-up FFGHG emissions, and among bottom-up emissions. Generally, trends and magnitudes of individual FFGHG emissions among top-down estimates are close to each other within the uncertainties. However, global bottom-up inventories show discrepancies in FFGHG emissions among each other in trends and magnitudes. The differences in emission magnitudes are up to 93%, 90%, 88%, 83%, 87%, and 85% for SF 6 , NF 3 , CF 4 , C 2 F 6 , C 3 F 8 , and c -C 4 F 8 , respectively. Besides, we reveal the insufficient regional TD studies and the lack of atmospheric observation data/stations especially in areas with potential FFGHG emissions. We make recommendations regarding the best practices for improving our understanding of these emissions, including both top-down and bottom-up methods.