Contribution of Land Cover Conversions to Connecticut (USA) Carbon Footprint

Elena A. Mikhailova, Lili Lin, Zhenbang Hao, Hamdi A. Zurqani, Christopher J. Post, Mark A. Schlautman and Gregory C. Post
Additional contact information
Elena A. Mikhailova: Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
Lili Lin: Department of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou 363000, China
Zhenbang Hao: University Key Lab for Geomatics Technology and Optimized Resources Utilization in Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
Hamdi A. Zurqani: University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Arkansas Forest Resources Center, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Monticello, AR 71655, USA
Christopher J. Post: Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
Mark A. Schlautman: Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, SC 29625, USA
Gregory C. Post: Geography Department, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97202, USA

Geographies, 2022, vol. 2, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from landcover conversions contribute to the total carbon (C) footprint (CF), which is the sum of GHG emissions from various sources and events expressed as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) equivalent. Soil-based emissions from land conversions are often excluded from the total CF, which can lead to underreporting the CF. This study uses the state of Connecticut (CT) as a case study to demonstrate the importance of soil-based emissions from land cover conversions to the state’s CF. The state of CT Public Act 08-98 (2008): Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) set a statutory requirement to cut GHG emissions 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050 without considering soil-based emissions from land conversions. This omission results in underestimates of past and current emissions related to CT’s CF. In addition, not accounting for soil-based emissions from land conversions may increase the future size of CT’s CF. Remote sensing and soil data analysis provide an opportunity for rapid, quantitative, and temporal assessment of the contribution of land cover conversions to CT’s CF by soil type, land cover type, and administrative units (counties). Results are reported for soil organic carbon (SOC), soil inorganic carbon (SIC), and total soil carbon (TSC) based on C contents and monetary values of social costs of carbon. The state of CT experienced soil-based emissions from land cover conversions from 2001 to 2016 with $388.1M (where $ = USD, M = million = 10 6 ) worth of “realized” social costs of carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2 ) emissions which should be accounted for in CT’s total CF. The current methodology could be used to optimize future land conversions to minimize the amount of soil GHG emissions by considering the soil C resources in different development scenarios. With an extensive, densely populated coastal area, CT will be directly affected by rising sea levels and other climate change impacts. Future research can focus on owner-specific CF contributions to address the responsibility for costs of GHG emissions as well as limiting the CF impact of land conversions.

Keywords: emissions; CO 2; climate change; damage; evidence; law; risk; sea rise; sprawl (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q15 Q5 Q53 Q54 Q56 Q57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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