Hello WRI and other folks,
I am wondering why Kuwait's CH4 levels appear so high.
For example, according to CAIT 2.0, Kuwait’s total emissions in 2010 (incl. LUCF) were 196.50 MtCO2e,
of which CH4: 106.98 MtCO2e (presumably fugitive emissions).
Also, the chart at the bottom of the country profile page shows a consistently high CH4 emissions trajectory since 1990:
http://cait2.wri.org/profile/KuwaitHowever, Kuwait's Initial (and so far only) National Communication to the UNFCCC, which contains an emissions inventory for 1994, estimates the share of CH4 emissions at 8.4% of total emissions (in CO2e), which is _substantially_ less than what CAIT 2.0 data suggests.
Furthermore, Kuwait, unlike most of its OPEC neighbours, is not amongst the world's top 20 'flarers' of natural gas, based on NOAA data (
http://go.worldbank.org/G2OAW2DKZ0).
Oman's proportional and absolute CH4 emissions are pretty high as well, but less so than those of Kuwait.
Would anyone be able to explain this? I'd be very thankful and will attribute the source in my publication(s).
Regards,
Mari Luomi, PhD
Research Associate,
Oxford Institute for Energy Studies