North American carbon budget and implications for the global carbon cycle [also known as the Prototype State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR) focused on North America]

Attachment 1. Draft Outline for State of the Carbon Cycle Report - North America 

Executive Summary

I. Introduction: What is the carbon cycle and why should we care?

PART I: The Carbon Cycle in North America

II. How do North American carbon sources and sinks relate to the global carbon cycle?

• Brief overview of the natural carbon cycle and how the carbon budget is defined
• Fossil fuel emissions
• Accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere
• Vegetation, soils, and land use
• Oceans and continental margins
• Quantitative integrated historical and current North American carbon budget in a global context

III. What are the primary carbon sources and sinks in North America, how are they changing and why?

1. Introduction and overview
2. Summary of carbon budget components for North America [synthesis linked to information in depth in Part II]
1. Brief overview of the natural carbon cycle and how the carbon budget is defined for North America
2. Fossil fuel emissions
3. Terrestrial vegetation, soils and land use Aquatic carbon and land-ocean interface
4. Coastal margins and margin-deep ocean interface
3. Knowns and uncertainties
4. Summary: State of the North American carbon budget
1. Quantify current carbon balance of North American land and coastal margins with respect to atmospheric carbon concentrations
2. Place current balance into historical and future perspective
3. Potential changes in carbon sources and sinks due to factors other than carbon management

IV. What are the options and measures that could significantly affect the carbon cycle?

1. Expectations for CO 2 and CH 4 concentrations in the atmosphere with current trajectories, by e.g. 2050 (review of best-developed scenarios, including discussion of global warming potentials)
2. Options and measures (national, state, local, enterprise-level) that can reduce sources, potential reduction in atmospheric concentrations, and potential cost per unit of educedconcentrations or GWP
3. Options and measures that can enhance sinks (national, state, local, enterprise-level), potential impact and potential cost per unit impact, by sector (agriculture, forestry, other land use, injection technologies)
4. Integrated comparison of sink reduction and source enhancement options, with able/chart: potential for atmospheric concentration reductions, costs per unit reduction and possible synergies and substitution effects across options
5. Implementation issues:

V. How can we improve the application of scientific information to decision support for carbon management and climate decision-making?

PART II – The Systems and Activities that Control the Carbon Budget in North America

VI. Emissions from consuming fossil fuels and producing concrete

VII. Agriculture

VIII. Forests

• Boreal
• Temperate
• Tropical

IX. Grass and Rangelands

X. Boreal Tundra and Peatlands (Canada and Alaska)

XI. Wetlands

XII. Other land categories: Shrub lands, Arid lands, Urban ecosystems

XIII. Aquatic carbon, coastal management, ocean basins