The release of substances (e.g. CO, NOx, PM, greenhouse gases incl. CO2, VOCs) into the atmosphere. (see Vehicle Emissions)

Under a GHG emissions trading scheme, permits to emit can initially either be given away for free, usually under a ‘grandfathering’ approach based on past emissions in a base year or an ‘updating’ approach based on the more recent emissions. The alternative is to auction permits in an initial market offering.

Refers to the air quality in a particular region or area. Most countries set vehicle emission and fuel quality requirements to meet ambient air quality targets. In the 1990’s the US established the Clean Air Act, which set Ambient Air Quality Targets covering the entire country, although the states do much of the work to carry out the Act. EPA calls these pollutants criteria air pollutants because the agency has regulated them by first developing health-based criteria (science-based guidelines) as the basis for setting permissible levels. One set of limits (primary standard) protects health; another set of limits (secondary standard) is intended to prevent environmental and property damage. A geographic area that meets or does better than the primary standard is called an attainment area; areas that don't meet the primary standard are called nonattainment areas.

In 1996 the European Union established a Framework Directive 96/62/EC on ambient air quality assessment and management. This Directive covers the revision of previously existing legislation and the introduction of new air quality standards for previously unregulated air pollutants, setting the timetable for the development of daughter directives on a range of pollutants. The list of atmospheric pollutants covered includes sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, lead and ozone – pollutants governed by already existing ambient air quality objectives- and benzene, carbon monoxide, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, cadmium, arsenic, nickel and mercury.

Biomass is converted to biogas by the breakdown of organic waste by bacteria in an oxygen-free environment. Anaerobic digestion (AD) can take place in a specially designed plant or naturally at landfill sites. AD plants process waste material into biogas (containing methane and carbon dioxide). The waste/feedstock is placed in an airtight container (called a digester) along with bacteria. Depending on the waste type and the design of the process, biogas typically contains 55-75% pure methane. This biogas can be upgraded to the equivalent of fossil natural gas which typically contains 70-96% methane, and can be used as feedstock in the production of bio-methanol, bio-DME, and BTL fuels. The liquid fraction of the remaining digested feedstock can be returned to the land as a fertilizer and the solid fiber used as a soil conditioner.

A list in the Kyoto Protocol (refer to Kyoto Protocol below) of 38 countries plus the European Community that agreed to “Quantified Emission Limitation and Reduction Commitment (or obligation)” (QELRCs) (reduction commitment), along with the QELRCs they accepted. The list is nearly identical to the Annex I Parties listed in the Convention except that it does not include Belarus or Turkey.

Is equivalent to 42 gallons (oil)

Targets for reducing emissions are often defined in relation to a base year. With regard to Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, in the Kyoto Protocol, 1990 is the base year for most countries for the major GHGs; 1995 can be used as the base year for some of the minor GHGs.

Is a standard industry reference point that is fair, market related, transparent and understood by all participants. Benchmarks facilitate business by providing a focal point for differential pricing of related commodities.

Biofuels tend to refer to fuels which are non petroleum based and made from biomass. The specific definition for bio fuels in Europe under Article 2 of Directive 2003/30/EC is:

… a liquid or gaseous fuel for transport produced from biomass. It may include any of the following:

(a) as pure biofuels or at high concentration in mineral oil derivatives, in accordance with specific quality standards for transport applications;
(b) as biofuels blended in mineral oil derivatives, in accordance with the appropriate European norms describing the technical specifications for transport fuels (EN 228 and EN 590);
(c) as liquids derived from biofuels, such as ETBE (ethyl-tertiobutyl- ether), where the percentage of biofuel is specified in the European Directive 2003/30/EC).

In the U.S. the definitions for BioFuels vary by U.S. Agency and by Biofuel type itself. The Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 defines Biofuels as “any organic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis, including agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood wastes and residues, plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, residues, fibers, and animal wastes, municipal wastes, and other waste materials.”

The definition of a Renewable Fuel in HR 6 of the draft U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard defines in general, the term `renewable fuel' to mean motor vehicle fuel that-

I    (a) is produced from grain, starch, oilseeds, or other biomass; or
(b) is natural gas produced from a biogas source, including a landfill, sewage waste treatment plant, feedlot, or other place where decaying organic material is found; and

II is used to replace or reduce the quantity of fossil fuel present in a fuel mixture used to operate a motor vehicle.

Directive 2003/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2003 on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport (refer to EU regional section for details). Main biofuel legislation in EU.