Environmental sub models for a macroeconomic model: Agricultural contribution to climate change and acidification in Denmark

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 82; no. 1; pp. 133 - 143
• Main Authors: Jensen, Trine S., Jensen, Jørgen D., Hasler, Berit, Illerup, Jytte B., Andersen, Frits M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 2007; Elsevier; Academic Press Ltd
• Subjects: acidification; agricultural industry; Agriculture; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; air pollution; ammonia; Ammonia (NH 3); Ammonia - analysis; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Climate; Climate change; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Denmark; econometric models; Economic models; Emission coefficients; Emissions; environmental models; Environmental Monitoring - economics; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental policy; Environmental Pollution - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gas emissions; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; General aspects; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; greenhouse effect; greenhouse gases; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Integrated economic-environmental modelling; Macroeconomics; methane; Methane (CH 4); Methane - analysis; Models, Biological; Models, Economic; Nitrogen Oxides - analysis; nitrous oxide; Nitrous oxide (N 2O); prediction; probabilistic models; probability analysis; sectoral development; Studies; Denmark; Europe; Emission coefficients; Integrated economic-environmental modelling; Ammonia (NH 3); Nitrous oxide (N 2O); Methane (CH 4); Methane; Ammonia (NH3); Methane (CH4); Acidification; Emission; Oxides; Environmental management; Modeling; Ammonia; Nitrous oxide (N2O); Agriculture; Models; Climate modification
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2005.12.017

Integrated modelling of the interaction between environmental pressure and economic development is a useful tool to evaluate environmental consequences of policy initiatives. However, the usefulness of such models is often restricted by the fact that these models only include a limited set of environmental impacts, which are often energy-related emissions. In order to evaluate the development in the overall environmental pressure correctly, these model systems must be extended. In this article an integrated macroeconomic model system of the Danish economy with environmental modules of energy related emissions is extended to include the agricultural contribution to climate change and acidification. Next to the energy sector, the agricultural sector is the most important contributor to these environmental themes and subsequently the extended model complex calculates more than 99% of the contribution to both climate change and acidification. Environmental sub-models are developed for agriculture-related emissions of CH 4, N 2O and NH 3. Agricultural emission sources related to the production specific activity variables are mapped and emission dependent parameters are identified in order to calculate emission coefficients. The emission coefficients are linked to the economic activity variables of the Danish agricultural production. The model system is demonstrated by projections of agriculture-related emissions in Denmark under two alternative sets of assumptions: a baseline projection of the general economic development and a policy scenario for changes in the husbandry sector within the agricultural sector.