What is LULUCF?
Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) account for emissions/removals due to conversions of land from forest to grass or vice versa, and from harvesting wood products. When converting forest land to grassland, carbon is released due to burning plants to clear land and carbon stores in the soil may also be released. Harvested wood products reflects the capture or release of carbon due to the net change in wood and paper.
What are the Target Emissions lines?
The Target Emissions lines are based on the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) document submitted to the United Nations by each party. The INDCs are sometimes unclear as to their accounting (in particular LULUCF), so the Target Emissions lines are a best effort on the part of the author in interpreting them.
If the Gross or Net Emissions are tracking above the line then the country may be unlikely to meet the target, otherwise if they are below the line then the country is on track to meet the target.
Why do the graphs only have data to two years ago?
The most recent data submitted to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) as part of the Common Reporting Format is only ever up to two years prior to the current year. This is to give the parties time to accurately prepare the data.
Why is there less data for countries such as China, India and Indonesia in the Emissions Per Capita graph?
China, India and Indonesia are non-Annex 1 countries, which means they have different reporting and review requirements from Annex 1 countries.
What is an Annex 1 country?
"Parties include the industrialized countries that were members of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) in 1992, plus countries with economies in transition (the EIT Parties), including the Russian Federation, the Baltic States, and several Central and Eastern European States." (source)
What does ODS stand for in 'Product uses as ODS substitutes'?
Ozone Depleting Substance