Introduction to Carbon Footprint Calculation and the Importance
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The document discusses greenhouse gases (GHGs) and their impact on global warming and climate change, outlining both naturally occurring and man-made sources. It details the increase in GHG concentrations due to anthropogenic activities and explains the concept of carbon footprint, which measures the total GHG emissions associated with organizations, products, or individuals. It emphasizes the importance of measuring carbon footprints for strategic, promotional, and economic reasons, as well as the need for organizations to establish operational boundaries and identify direct and indirect emissions.
Introduction to Carbon Footprint Calculation and the Importance
- 2. Carbon Cycle
- 3. What are Green House Gases • Any gas which retains heat from solar energy falling on earth is called a green house gas (GHG). • There are 3 naturally occurring gases – Carbon Dioxide, CO2 – Methane, CH4 – Nitrous oxide, N2O • There are many man made gases • Key gases are – Perflorocarbon (PFC), – Sulphur Hexafloride (SF6), – Hydroflorocarbon (HFC) and many within their families
- 4. Green House Gases(good or bad) • GHGs are essential for our survival on earth. • Absorbs solar heat reflected by the earth and maintain global average temperature • In excess they absorb more heat and the temperature of the atmosphere will go up. • We call this Global Warming • As a result the climate in the earth affected which we call climate change
- 5. What are the anthropogenic activities • All production and consumption activities by humans • More specifically release of a group of gases to the atmosphere through these activities • These gases are released by live stock farming, burning of fossil fuels, generation of bio degradable wastes, Land use change, emission of refrigerants from cooling systems • They are called Green House gases
- 6. Increase in GHGs • CO2 increased by 40% from 278 ppm about 1750 to 390.5 ppm in 2011. • During the same time interval, CH4 increased by 150% from 722 ppb to 1803 ppb, • N2O by 20% from 271 ppb to 324.2 ppb in 2011
- 7. Global Warming • Accumulated heat in the atmosphere through increasing quantity of green house gases increases the temperature of the entire earth. • This phenomena is called global warming
- 8. Climate Change • What it is? • Changes to climate in unexpected terms or alteration of normal behavior of climate • Why? – Changes in Solar energy incidence due to abnormal activities on the surface of the sun – Cosmic disturbances through other starts and planets – Anthropogenic activities
- 9. 2007 Conclusions • Very high confidence that global average net effect of human activities since 1750 one of warming • Human-caused warming over last 30 years has likely had a visible influence on many physical and biological systems • Continued GHG emissions at or above current rates would cause further warming and induce many changes in the global climate system during the 21st century that would very likely be larger than those observed during the 20th century.”
- 10. Global mean temperatures are rising faster with time 150 0.0450.012 100 0.0740.018 50 0.1280.026 25 0.1770.052 Warmest 12 years: 1998,2005,2003,2002,2004,2006, 2001,1997,1995,1999,1990,2000 Period Rate Years /decade
- 11. Computer models
- 12. What is Global Warming Potential • All these gases are not equal in their heat absorption • 1 kg of CO2 absorbs 1 heat unit, • 1kg of CH4 absorbs 28 heat units, • 1 kg of N2Oabsorbs 278 units of heat, • 1 kg of refrigerant absorbs 2300 units of heat • This particular property is called Global Warming Potential ( Basis for GWP is 100 years)
- 13. Measurement of GHG emissions • Globally GHG measurements are referred to as carbon dioxide emissions or simply carbon emissions. • For example if a household emits 1000kg of CO2 ,60 kgs of CH4and 4 kgs of N2O we can convert all of them as follow, • 1000 kgs of CO2 • 12kgs of methane =60 x 28 = 1,680 CO2e • 4kgs of Nitrous oxide =4 x 278 = 1,112 CO2e • The total emissions of 1000kg of CO2 + 60kgs of CH4 + 4 kgs of N2O can be equated to 1000 + 1,680 + 1,112 = 3792 kgs of CO2e Therefore we express carbon emissions as CO2equivalent or CO2e • The emissions of GHG by an enterprise, household, product or a person is now referred to as “Carbon Footprint”
- 14. Global Situation • In 2010 the all the countries emitted 35,669 Million Tons of GHGs measured as carbon equivalent • China is the leading emitter while US is the 2nd. • The next slide shows the distribution of carbon emissions by each country
- 16. Carbon Footprint • Carbon Footprint of an organization is the total GHG emissions by that during one full year. • Carbon Footprint of a household or a person is also defined the same way • Carbon footprint of a product is the total GHG emissions by that product from extraction of materials to final disposal
- 17. What is carbon footprint • "the total sets of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, event, product or person.“ • A measure of the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions of a defined population, system or activity, considering all relevant sources, sinks and storage within the spatial and temporal boundary of the population, system or activity of interest. Calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) using the relevant 100- year global warming potential (GWP100).”
- 18. Why Measure Carbon Footprint • It shows the organizational contribution to global GHG emissions. • It provides a strategic map to manage carbon to reach carbon neutrality • It serves as a marketing tool • It serves as an economic tool to reduce costs • It enhances organization image
- 19. Key Factors affecting GHG Emissions • Heavy Use of Fossil Based Fuels • Industrial Processes such as mining, lime production, cement production • Product Use • Waste generation • Land use Change in Agriculture and Forestry related industries
- 20. Benefits of Calculation of Carbon Footprint • Opportunities for economic gains • Serves as a promotional tool • Increases Customer confidence • Be a responsible and accountable Organization • Willingness of investors/financiers to provide funds
- 21. Identification of Sources, Sinks and Reservoirs and scopes
- 22. Organizational boundaries The organization may comprise one or more facilities. Facility-level GHG emissions or removals may be produced from one or more GHG sources or sinks. Figure 2 shows the relationship between GHG sources, sinks and facilities. The organization shall consolidate its facility-level GHG emissions and removals by one of the following approaches: a) control: the organization accounts for all quantified GHG emissions and/or removals from facilities over which it has financial or operational control; or b) equity share: the organization accounts for its portion of GHG emissions and/or removals from respective facilities. The organization may use a different consolidation methodology where specific arrangements are defined by a GHG programme or legal contract. When a facility is controlled by several organizations, these organizations should adopt the same consolidation methodology. The organization shall document which consolidation method it applies. The organization shall explain any change to the selected consolidation method
- 23. Operational Boundaries Establishing Operational Boundaries • The organization shall establish and document its operational boundaries. The establishment of operational boundaries includes identifying GHG emissions and removals associated with the organization’s operations, categorizing GHG emissions and removals into direct emissions, energy indirect emissions and other indirect emissions. It includes choosing which of the other indirect emissions will be quantified and reported. The organization shall explain any changes to its operational boundaries.
- 25. Carbon Footprint – 3 Scopes Carbon Footprint Scope 1: Direct Emissions Scope 2: Indirect Emissions (Purchased energy) Scope 3: Other Indirect Emissions Remember: there are three levels (scopes) to a green house gas/carbon footprint calculation.
- 26. Simplifying the Types of GHG Emissions All Expressed as Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide (MTeCO2) This slide courtesy of CA-CP Scope 3: Indirect emissions including transportation, waste disposal, etc. Scope 1: Emissions from the direct activities of the campus Scope 2: Emissions from utility production not at the institution
- 27. Direct GHG emitting Sources • Generation of electricity, heat, or steam. These emissions result from combustion of fuels in stationary sources, e.g., boilers, furnaces, turbines • Physical or chemical processing. Most of these emissions result from manufacture or processing of chemicals and materials, e.g., cement, aluminum, adipic acid, ammonia manufacture, and waste processing • Transportation of materials, products, waste, and employees. These emissions result from the combustion of fuels in company owned/controlled mobile combustion sources (e.g., trucks, trains, ships, airplanes, buses, and cars) • Fugitive emissions. These emissions result from intentional or unintentional releases, e.g., equipment leaks from joints, seals, packing, and gaskets; methane emissions from coal mines and venting; hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions during the use of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment; and methane leakages from gas transport.
- 28. 4.3.5 Selection or development of GHG emission or removal factors If GHG activity data are used to quantify GHG emissions and removals, the organization shall select or develop GHG emission and removal factors that a) are derived from a recognized origin, b) are appropriate for the GHG source or sink concerned, c) are current at the time of quantification, d) take account of quantification uncertainty and are calculated in a manner intended to yield accurate and reproducible results, and e) are consistent with the intended use of the GHG inventory https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/EFDB Energy Emission Factors
- 29. Calculation Methodology • For Fossil Based Fuels • Total GHG Emissions= Volume (Lit)* Density (kg/Lit)* Net Calorific Value ( Heat Value) (MJ/kg)* Emission Factor(kgs/TJ)* 10-6 Emission Factor= Default EF of CO2+DEF of CH4* GWP of CH4+ DEF of N2O* GWP of N2O
- 30. Example • Diesel is used in a Drier Furnace of an industry • Quantity: 240 liters per day • Density of Diesel: 0.87kgs/lit • Calorific Value : 40.32 MJ/kg • Emission Factors; kgs/TJ CO2 -74100 CH4 - 3 N2O- 0.6 • Global Warming Potential- CH4 28, N2O- 278
- 31. Calculation Methodology For Purchased Electricity (Scope 2/ Energy Indirect) Electricity Consumed x Emission Factor (derived by SEA) Emissions due to Transmission and Distribution Loss is reported under Scope 3/Indirect emissions
- 32. Data to be Considered The assessment shall include GHG emissions arising from processes, inputs and outputs in the life cycle of a product, including but not limited to: a) energy use (including energy sources, such as electricity, that were themselves created using processes that have GHG emissions associated with them); b) combustion processes; c) chemical reactions; d) refrigerant loss and other fugitive gases; e) operations; f) service provision and delivery; g) land use change; h) livestock and other agricultural processes; i) waste.