Description of EDGAR version 2.0: a set of global emission inventories of greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances for all anthropogenic and most natural sources on a per country basis and on 1 degree x 1 degree grid

A global emission source database called EDGAR (Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research) has been developed jointly by TNO and RIVM to meet the need of atmospheric chemistry and climate modellers and of policy-makers. The purpose of the database was to estimate for 1990 the annual emissions per sector of direct and indirect greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, CO, NOx non-methane VOC) and SO2 including ozone-depleting compounds (halocarbons), on a regional and grid basis. To meet the aim of establishing the global emissions from both anthropogenic and biogenic sources, a complete set of data would be required. This is to allow estimation of the total source strength of the various gases with a 1 degree x 1 degree resolution (altitude resolution of 1 km), as agreed upon in the Global Emissions Inventory Activity (GEIA) of the International Atmospheric Chemistry Programme (IGAC). As insights in this field are still changing, due attention was paid in the setup of the system to flexibility on the disaggregation of sources, spatial and temporal resolution, and species. This report presents a description of the construction and contents of the database, as well as the type and sources of data: the methodology used in establishing the set of inventories, the structure and main functions of the database system; the setup of the emission source categories; the description of sources and related data (activity levels, emission factors, maps used to allocate emissions on grid); resulting emission inventories (by region and on grid), including a first validation; uncertainties and limitations; policy applications, and conclusions summarizing the achievements of this project