Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions Potentials and Mitigation Costs in World Regions

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction potentials in world regions and to estimate marginal abatement costs (MAC) through 2020. This study covers 21 geographical world regions and estimate MAC by using detailed technology selection database. In the result, reduction potentials are estimated as 2.5~3.6 GtCO₂ eq and 6.4~7.7 GtCO₂ eq in Annex I and Non-Annex I respectively, under the case of 100 US$/t-CO₂ marginal abatement cost in 2020. China, the United States, India, Western Europe and Russia are five major regions where there are large reduction potentials, and it accounts for around 60 % of total reduction potentials in the world. As for the sector breakdown, large reduction potentials in power generation and industry sectors are evaluated due to the use of low energy-efficient technologies particularly in Non-Annex I in the current situation, and these sectors account for around 50 % of world total reduction potentials. But major sectors which have large reduction potentials vary differently depending on the socio-economic characteristics in each region. There are much larger potentials of cost-effective measures in developing countries, thus international cooperation plays an important role to achieve these GHG emission reductions.