Scenarios of livestock – related greenhouse gas emissions in Austria

Abstract

Abstract: This paper compares existing livestock emissions and projections on three different spatial levels (global, European, national) and on two sets of system boundaries (inventory data and emission data considering the whole lifecycle). It aims to provide insight in the validity of scenario data of national Austrian livestock emissions. This entails the use of national greenhouse gas emission trends until 2030 – specifically for Austria – as well as EU-based assessments of country emissions up to 2050. In addition, global emission data was extracted from the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) database for the years 2000–2100. Extending national emission projections up to 2100 by combining different datasets connects national emission policies to international strategies. It becomes clear that the goal of keeping average global temperature rise under 2 °C (represented by RCP2.6), even in the medium term to 2030 and only looking at the livestock sector, is much more ambitious than any of the national projections. Furthermore, inventory emission data is set in contrast to emission data considering the whole lifecycle of meat products in Austria, with an overview of assessments from pork and beef production. Emissions reported in inventories represent roughly half of those assigned to the livestock sector in life cycle studies.