Carbon Footprint of Karnataka: Accounting of Sources and Sinks

Abstract

Higher greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint with the burgeoning anthropogenic activities has altered the energy cycle contributing to the changes in the climate with the global warming. Imbalances are evident with the increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere. The increased loads of Green House Gas (GHG) emission due to a higher release of carbon content are causing loss of ecosystem services further resulting in climate changes. The forests ecosystems account for ~82% of the continental biomass, a source for higher terrestrial carbon sequestration, playing a vital role in maintaining the carbon cycle and provision of various goods and services, which play a primary role in human’s socioeconomic development. The various initiatives and concerns across the globe are rising to account for the carbon emissions and finding the potential measures for regulation. The carbon dynamics in the Karnataka state has been investigated considering the present status of ecosystems, quantification of sector-wise emissions, and projected likely change in sequestration by modeling land-use changes. Karnataka state now has 15% of the geographical area under forest compared with 21% in 1985. The total above and below ground biomass from forests of Karnataka was 782.1 (Tera Gram) in 1985 and reduced to 519.36 Tg by 2019 due to the largescale land-use changes leading to deforestation and land degradation. The loss of 168 Tg carbon sequestration potential confirms the extent of anthropogenic pressure on the state’s forest. Carbon sequestered is about 16.1 Tg/year, whereas total emission is around 150.65 Tg. The various sources of carbon emissions were accounted for covering livestock, agriculture to industries for the year 2019 as 150.65Tg, which accounts 5% of India’s total emission. Around 11% of the emission has been captured by the forests of Karnataka. The sequestered carbon accounts to INR 34 billion ($0.5 billion) considering INR 2142 ($30) per tonne for carbon trading, which highlights the scope for higher carbon credits with reforestation of degraded landscapes.