Standardized but Limited: Assessing the Applicability of IPCC Tier 1 for Methane Emission Estimates in Rice Cultivation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61978/sativa.v1i4.1434Keywords:
Methane Emissions, Rice Cultivation, IPCC Tier 1, Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Emission Factor Variability, Climate MitigationAbstract
Methane emissions from rice cultivation constitute a major share of global agricultural greenhouse gases. This study applies the IPCC Tier 1 methodology to estimate methane (CH₄) emissions from rice paddies under varying agronomic scenarios. The default emission factor (EFc) of 1.30 kg CH₄/ha/day is used to model emissions over a 150-day season, resulting in baseline estimates of approximately 195 kg CH₄/ha/season. Variability in EFc (0.80–2.20) reflects a range of 120–330 kg CH₄/ha/season, underscoring the importance of management practices. National-scale simulations suggest that emissions from 5 million hectares of rice paddies could reach up to 1.0 Mt CH₄/season. While Tier 1 offers an accessible, standardized framework for countries with limited data, its generalizations can lead to under- or overestimations, especially in regions with unique climatic and soil conditions. Sensitivity analysis, comparative emissions studies, and international case examples reveal both the utility and limitations of Tier 1 in guiding mitigation strategies. The study advocates for transitioning to higher-tier methodologies (Tier 2/3) where feasible, and investing in localized data systems to enhance accuracy in national greenhouse gas inventories.
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