Table 2 Present value (PV) of avoided global social costs of CH4 emissions, 2015–2050 (billion 2015 US$), from a 40% reduction in total P loading in the western Lake Erie basina.

From: Protecting local water quality has global benefits

 

PV

SC-CH4 methodb

 Discount rate = 5%

1.08

 Discount rate = 3%

3.11

 Discount rate = 2.5%

4.36

SC-CO2 × CO2-e methodc

 Discount rate = 5%

0.78

 Discount rate = 3%

3.33

 Discount rate = 2.5%

5.22

  1. aA 40% reduction in total P loading would yield a 2.696 Tg Co2-eq yr−1 CO2-eq flux of (100 year) reduction in CH4 emissions (0.07929 Tg CH4 yr−1).
  2. bSC-CH4 method uses estimates of the social costs of CO2, CH4, and N2O adapted from published sources16,29.
  3. cSC-CO2 × CO2-e method converts CH4 to CO2-equivalents and uses estimates of the social cost of carbon dioxide15.
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