AMAP Assessment 2015: Methane as an Arctic climate forcer (book)

V. Arora, Euan Nisbet, David Lowry, Rebecca Fisher, 39 Other authors

Research output: Book/ReportBook

83 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This assessment report presents the results of the 2015 AMAP Assessment of Methane as an Arctic climate forcer. This is the first AMAP assessment dealing with this issue and complements a second assessment of black carbon and tropospheric ozone as Arctic climate forcers.
The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) is a group working under the Arctic Council. The Arctic Council Ministers have requested AMAP to: • produce integrated assessment reports on the status and
trends of the conditions of the Arctic ecosystems;
• identify possible causes for the changing conditions;
• detect emerging problems, their possible causes, and the
potential risk to Arctic ecosystems including indigenous
peoples and other Arctic residents; and to
• recommend actions required to reduce risks to Arctic
ecosystems.
This report provides the accessible scientific basis and validation for the statements and recommendations made in the Summary for Policy-makers: Arctic Climate Issues  reporti that was delivered to Arctic Council Ministers at their meeting in Iqaluit, Canada in April . It is also the basis for a related AMAP State of the Arctic Environment report Arctic Climate Issues : Overviewii . It includes extensive background data and references to the scientific literature, and details the sources for figures reproduced in the overview report. Whereas the Summary for Policy-makers report contains recommendations that focus mainly on policy-relevant actions concerned with addressing short-lived climate forcers, the conclusions and recommendations presented in this report also cover issues of a more scientific nature, such as proposals for filling gaps in knowledge, and recommendations relevant to future monitoring and research work.
This assessment of methane as an Arctic climate forcer was conducted between 2012 and 2014 by an international group of over 40 experts. Lead authors were selected based on an open nomination process coordinated by AMAP. A similar process was used to select international experts who independently reviewed this report.
Information contained in this report is fully referenced and based first and foremost on peer-reviewed and published results of research and monitoring undertaken since 2010. It also incorporates some new (unpublished) information from monitoring and research conducted according to well- established and documented national and international standards and quality assurance/quality control protocols. Care has been taken to ensure that no critical probability statements are based on non-peer-reviewed materials.
Access to reliable and up-to-date information is essential for the development of science-based decision-making regarding ongoing changes in the Arctic and their global implications.
The methane assessment summary reportsi, ii have therefore been developed specifically for policy-makers, summarizing the main findings of the assessment. The methane assessment lead authors have confirmed that both this report and its derivative products accurately and fully reflect their scientific assessment. The methane assessment reports are freely available from the AMAP Secretariat and on the AMAP website: www.amap.no, and their use for educational purposes is encouraged.
AMAP would like to express its appreciation to all experts who have contributed their time, efforts and data, in particular the lead authors who coordinated the production of this report. Thanks are also due to the reviewers who contributed to the methane assessment peer-review process and provided valuable comments that helped to ensure the quality of the report. A list of contributors is included in the acknowledgements at the start of this report and lead authors are identified at the start of each chapter. The acknowledgements list is not comprehensive. Specifically, it does not include the many national institutes, laboratories and organizations, and their staff, which have been involved in various countries in methane-related monitoring and research. Apologies, and no lesser thanks are given to any individuals unintentionally omitted from the list.
The support from the Arctic countries and non-Arctic countries implementing research and monitoring in the Arctic is vital to the success of AMAP. The AMAP work is essentially based on ongoing activities within these countries, and the countries that provide the necessary support for most of the experts involved in the preparation of the AMAP assessments. In particular, AMAP would like to acknowledge Canada and the United States for taking the lead country role in this assessment and thank Canada, Norway and the Nordic Council of Ministers for their financial support to the methane assessment work.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherArctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP)
Number of pages147
ISBN (Print)978-82-7971-091-2
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Cite this