From Carbon Footprint to Climate Commitment
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Default Emissions from Biofuels
Definition of input data to assess GHG default emissions from biofuels in EU legislation Version 1c - July 2017 Edwards, R. Padella, M. Giuntoli, J. Koeble, R. O’Connell, A. Bulgheroni, C. Marelli, L. 2017 EUR 28349 EN This publication is a Science for Policy report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s science and knowledge service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking process. The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of this publication. JRC Science Hub https://ec.europa.eu/jrc JRC104483 EUR 28349 EN PDF ISBN 978-92-79-64617-1 ISSN 1831-9424 doi:10.2790/658143 Print ISBN 978-92-79-64616-4 ISSN 1018-5593 doi:10.2790/22354 Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2017 © European Union, 2017 The reuse of the document is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged and the original meaning or message of the texts are not distorted. The European Commission shall not be held liable for any consequences stemming from the reuse. How to cite this report: Edwards, R., Padella, M., Giuntoli, J., Koeble, R., O’Connell, A., Bulgheroni, C., Marelli, L., Definition of input data to assess GHG default emissions from biofuels in EU legislation, Version 1c – July 2017 , EUR28349 EN, doi: 10.2790/658143 All images © European Union 2017 Title Definition of input data to assess GHG default emissions from biofuels in EU legislation, Version 1c – July 2017 Abstract The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) (2009/28/EC) and the Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) (2009/30/EC), amended in 2015 by Directive (EU) 2015/1513 (so called ‘ILUC Directive’), fix a minimum requirement for greenhouse gas (GHG) savings for biofuels and bioliquids for the period until 2020, and set the rules for calculating the greenhouse impact of biofuels, bioliquids and their fossil fuels comparators. -
In Support of Fossil Fuel Divestment in the Uw System & Foundations
65-R-1 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE STUDENT SENATE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT IN THE UW SYSTEM & FOUNDATIONS 1 WHEREAS the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UW-Eau Claire) Student Senate is the official 2 voice of the student body; and 3 WHEREAS the University of Wisconsin System (UW System) must address the current fiscal 4 implications of the enrollment cliff, the COVID-19 pandemic, budget cuts, and the tuition freeze; and 5 WHEREAS prospective and current students in the UW System are increasingly concerned about 6 climate change and environmental injustice perpetrated by the fossil fuel industry; and 7 WHEREAS a UW System both receptive to and supportive of student opinions and open to 8 investing in climate solutions will attract new students from across the state, country, and world who seek 9 a university which represents their interests; and 10 WHEREAS according to NASA, the burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) has increased 11 the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄); and 12 WHEREAS the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [1] concluded there is a 95% 13 probability that anthropogenic (human-produced) gases, including CO₂, have caused the increase in global 14 temperature; and 15 WHEREAS over the past 20 years, nearly three-fourths of anthropogenic emissions came from the 16 burning of fossil fuels [2]; and 17 WHEREAS the burning of fossil fuels causes increased air pollution which according to Harvard’s 18 School of Public Health, one in five deaths -
IFC Carbon Neutrality Committment Factsheet
Carbon Neutral Commitment for IFC’s Own Operations IFC, along with the World Bank, are committed to making our internal business operations carbon neutral by: IFC’s Carbon Neutrality 1. Calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from our operations Commitment is an integral 2. Reducing carbon emissions through both familiar and innovative conservation measures part of IFC's corporate 3. Purchasing carbon offsets to balance our remaining internal carbon footprint after our reduction efforts response to climate change. IFC’s carbon neutrality commitment encourages continual improvement towards more efficient business operations that help mitigate climate change. It is also consistent with IFC’s strategy of guiding our investment work to address climate change and ensure environmental and social sustainability of projects that IFC finances. This factsheet focuses on the carbon footprint of our internal operations rather than the footprint of IFC’s portfolio. IFC uses the ‘operational control approach’ for setting its CALCULATING OUR GHG EMISSIONS organizational boundaries for its GHG inventory. Emissions are included from all locations for which IFC has direct control over IFC has calculated the annual GHG emissions for its internal business operations, and where it can influence decisions that impact GHG operations for headquarters in Washington, D.C. since 2006, and for emissions. IFC’s global operations since 2008 including global business travel. IFC’s annual GHG inventory includes the following sources of The methodology IFC formally used is based on the Greenhouse Gas GHG emissions from IFC’s leased and owned facilities and air Protocol Initiative (GHG Protocol), an internationally recognized GHG travel: accounting and reporting standard. -
Beyond Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity
Edinburgh Research Explorer Beyond equilibrium climate sensitivity Citation for published version: Knutti, R, Rugenstein, MAA & Hegerl, G 2017, 'Beyond equilibrium climate sensitivity', Nature Geoscience. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo3017 Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1038/ngeo3017 Link: Link to publication record in Edinburgh Research Explorer Document Version: Peer reviewed version Published In: Nature Geoscience General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Edinburgh Research Explorer is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The University of Edinburgh has made every reasonable effort to ensure that Edinburgh Research Explorer content complies with UK legislation. If you believe that the public display of this file breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 07. Oct. 2021 Beyond equilibrium climate sensitivity Reto Knutti* (1,2), Maria A. A. Rugenstein (1) and Gabriele C. Hegerl (3) (1) Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland (2) National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA (3) School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JW, UK Nature Geoscience, 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ngeo3017 *Correspondence to: [email protected] Equilibrium climate sensitivity characterizes the Earth’ long-term global temperature response to an increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. It has reached almost iconic status as the single number that describes how severe climate change will be. -
Carbon Emission Reduction—Carbon Tax, Carbon Trading, and Carbon Offset
energies Editorial Carbon Emission Reduction—Carbon Tax, Carbon Trading, and Carbon Offset Wen-Hsien Tsai Department of Business Administration, National Central University, Jhongli, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan; [email protected]; Tel.: +886-3-426-7247 Received: 29 October 2020; Accepted: 19 November 2020; Published: 23 November 2020 1. Introduction The Paris Agreement was signed by 195 nations in December 2015 to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change following the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. In Article 2 of the Paris Agreement, the increase in the global average temperature is anticipated to be held to well below 2 ◦C above pre-industrial levels, and efforts are being employed to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 ◦C. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides information on emissions of the main greenhouse gases. It shows that about 81% of the totally emitted greenhouse gases were carbon dioxide (CO2), 10% methane, and 7% nitrous oxide in 2018. Therefore, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (or carbon emissions) are the most important cause of global warming. The United Nations has made efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or mitigate their effect. In Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, three cooperative approaches that countries can take in attaining the goal of their carbon emission reduction are described, including direct bilateral cooperation, new sustainable development mechanisms, and non-market-based approaches. The World Bank stated that there are some incentives that have been created to encourage carbon emission reduction, such as the removal of fossil fuels subsidies, the introduction of carbon pricing, the increase of energy efficiency standards, and the implementation of auctions for the lowest-cost renewable energy. -
The Carbon Footprint of Global Trade Tackling Emissions from International Freight Transport
The Carbon Footprint of Global Trade Tackling Emissions from International Freight Transport 1 International Transport Forum: Global dialogue for better transport Growing concern Projected increase of CO2 emissions from trade-related international freight CO2 emissions om eight = 30% 7% of all transport-related of global CO2 emissions from fuel CO2 emissions combustion The issue CO2 emissions from global freight transport are set to increase fourfold Growth in international trade has been more empty runs and increased demand for rapid, characterised by globalisation and the associated energy-intensive transport such as air freight. As geographical fragmentation of international freight transport — whether by air, land or sea — production processes. Supply chains have become relies heavily on fossil fuel for propulsion and is longer and more complex, as logistics networks link still a long way from being able to switch to cleaner more and more economic centres across oceans energy sources, it is one of the hardest sectors to and continents. Changing consumer preferences decarbonise. and new manufacturing requirements also affect international trade and thus shape freight patterns. The long-term impact of global trade on carbon This has led to more frequent and smaller freight dioxide (CO2) emissions has been largely ignored. shipments and, as a result, to less full containers, International trade contributes to global CO2 2 8132 Mt CO2 emissions 2108 Mt om eight = 30% 7% of all transport-related of global CO2 emissions from fuel CO2 emissions combustion Freight Freight 2010 2050 The issue CO2 emissions from global freight transport are set to increase fourfold emissions mainly through freight transport. -
The Carbon Footprint of Domestic Water Use in the Huron River Watershed
The Carbon Footprint of Domestic Water Use in the Huron River Watershed Introduction A significant amount of energy enables our daily use of water. Whenever water is moved uphill, treated, heated, cooled, or pressurized, energy is needed. Most energy production emits carbon dioxide (CO2), which contributes to global warming. Therefore, water use is another, often overlooked, contributor to our individual and collective carbon footprint. Better decisions related to water treatment and use can help reduce the amount of energy used throughout the water use cycle. By focusing on water conservation, efficiency, and reuse, we can minimize energy use, reduce the associated carbon footprint, and protect our freshwater resources. The Huron River Watershed As more people move to cities, the demand on municipal water supplies will grow. In some cities the cost of energy The watershed of the Huron River encompasses over to pump, treat, and deliver water to consumers already 900 square miles of Southeast Michigan. The river itself is around 60% of a city’s energy bill.v Fifty percent of the flows more than 125 miles from its source near Big Lake in total energy consumed by the City of Ann Arbor goes to Springfield Township, to its outlet at Pointe Mouillee in Lake drinking water and wastewater treatment. Both the costs Erie. The watershed contains all or parts of seven counties: Oakland, Livingston, Ingham, Jackson, Washtenaw, Wayne, and and energy required to provide clean and reliable water Monroe, and is home to more than a half million residents. will continue to increase as demand grows. Also, higher The communities of the watershed have access to an abun- regulatory standards are expected for both drinking water dance of freshwater. -
Is There Warming in the Pipeline? a Multi-Model Analysis of the Zero Emission Commitment from CO2 Andrew H
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-492 Preprint. Discussion started: 20 January 2020 c Author(s) 2020. CC BY 4.0 License. Is there warming in the pipeline? A multi-model analysis of the zero emission commitment from CO2 Andrew H. MacDougall1, Thomas L. Frölicher2,3, Chris D. Jones4, Joeri Rogelj5,6, H. Damon Matthews7, Kirsten Zickfeld8, Vivek K. Arora9, Noah J. Barrett1, Victor Brovkin10, Friedrich A. Burger2,3, Micheal Eby11, Alexey V. Eliseev12,13, Tomohiro Hajima14, Philip B. Holden15, Aurich Jeltsch-Thömmes2,3, Charles Koven16, Laurie Menviel17, Martine Michou18, Igor I. Mokhov12,13, Akira Oka19, Jörg Schwinger20, Roland Séférian18, Gary Shaffer21,22, Andrei Sokolov23, Kaoru Tachiiri14, Jerry Tjiputra 20, Andrew Wiltshire4, and Tilo Ziehn24 1St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, B2G 2W5, Canada 2Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland 3Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Switzerland 4Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, EX1 3PB, UK 5Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, London,UK 6International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria 7Concordia University, Montreal, Canada 8Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada 9Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Victoria, BC, Canada 10Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg, Germany 11University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada 12Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow -
C H a P T E R Iv
CHAPTER IV Moving forward: youth taking action and making a difference The combined acumen and involvement of all individuals, from regular citizens to scientific experts, will be needed as the world moves forward in implementing climate change miti- gation and adaptation measures and promot- ing sustainable development. Young people must be prepared to play a key role within this context, as they are the ones who will live to R IV experience the long-term impact of today’s crucial decisions. TE The present chapter focuses on the partici- pation of young people in addressing climate change. It begins with a review of the various mechanisms for youth involvement in environ- HAP mental advocacy within the United Nations C system. A framework comprising progressive levels of participation is then presented, and concrete examples are provided of youth in- volvement in climate change efforts around the globe at each of these levels. The role of youth organizations and obstacles to partici- pation are also examined. PROMOTING YOUTH ture. In addition to their intellectual contribution and their ability to mobilize support, they bring parTICipaTION WITHIN unique perspectives that need to be taken into account” (United Nations, 1995, para. 104). THE UNITED NATIONS The United Nations has long recognized the Box IV.1 importance of youth participation in decision- making and global policy development. Envi- The World Programme of ronmental issues have been assigned priority in Action for Youth on the recent decades, and a number of mechanisms importance of participation have been established within the system that The World Programme of Action for enables youth representatives to contribute to Youth recognizes that the active en- climate change deliberations. -
Public Input on Climate Change Disclosures Dear Chair Gensler
June 14, 2021 RE: Public Input on Climate Change Disclosures Dear Chair Gensler & Commissioners Lee, Peirce, Roisman, and Crenshaw: Sierra Club is pleased to offer comments in response to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) request for public input on climate-related financial disclosure issued by Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee on March 15, 2021.1 We appreciate the opportunity to offer feedback and are pleased to support the Commission’s initiative in examining and addressing this time-critical issue. Sierra Club is the largest nonprofit grassroots environmental organization in the United States, with 64 chapters and over 3.8 million members and supporters. Sierra Club is dedicated to practicing and promoting the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; to educating and enlisting humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to using all lawful means to carry out these objectives. In keeping with our mission, Sierra Club seeks to hold accountable businesses with harmful environmental practices and human rights violations, advances legislation and regulations that seek to internalize the costs of environmental damage, and pursues legal remedies against corporations that harm the environmental and social fabric. Sierra Club regularly practices before both federal and state agencies and regulators in environmental, utility, and economic matters. Since its inception, the Commission has overseen a public company reporting disclosure system that balances the interests of investors and public companies, with recognition of “the special interest and rights of investors…”2 The resulting disclosure system has become a national treasure emulated by jurisdictions around the world. -
Climate Change: a Real Threat to Our Future
Appendix 1 Climate Change: a real threat to our future MEDWAY YOUTH COUNCIL ANNUAL YOUTH CONFERENCE REPORT 2019 TEL: 01634 338748 WEB: medwayyouthcouncil.co.uk MAY 22 TWITTER: @MYC_Medway FACEBOOK: Medway Youth Council COMPANY NAME INSTAGRAM: Authored by: Your Name medway_youth_council YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE VOTE, BUT YOU DO HAVE A VOICE Appendix 1 This report aims to outline the findings and recommendations of Medway Youth Council’s Annual Conference 2019 ‘Climate Change: A Real Threat to Our Future’ Opening from Anna McGovern Medway Youth Council Chair. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues we face as a global populace, with this particularly being more profound to young people being the future generation of adults in society. This was what ignited the inspiration behind our Annual Conference for 2019. Young people from across Medway, representing their schools, were invited to attend our Annual Conference, which ran from 9:00 to 15:00 at MidKent College, Gillingham. The day was segmented into three workshops, each tackling an issue within climate change on a local and national scale, followed by a Q&A panel delivered by climate change professionals in the afternoon. The aim of the Conference was to educate young people on the key topics within climate change, and to show them how even small changes in their everyday lifestyle could make a massive difference towards this cause. Following the Conference, myself and our Workshop Leads have developed this Conference report which is to highlight the key findings of our Conference, to publicise young people’s views towards climate change, and to set out our action points based on the findings on our Conference for us to deliver upon. -
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cultivation of Plants Used for Biofuel Production in Poland
atmosphere Article Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cultivation of Plants Used for Biofuel Production in Poland Paweł Wi´sniewski* and Mariusz Kistowski Department of Landscape Research and Environmental Management, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Ba˙zy´nskiego4, 80309 Gda´nsk,Poland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 29 February 2020; Accepted: 14 April 2020; Published: 16 April 2020 Abstract: A reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as an increase in the share of renewable energy are the main objectives of EU energy policy. In Poland, biofuels play an important role in the structure of obtaining energy from renewable sources. In the case of biofuels obtained from agricultural raw materials, one of the significant components of emissions generated in their full life cycle is emissions from the cultivation stage. The aim of the study is to estimate and recognize the structure of GHG emission from biomass production in selected farms in Poland. For this purpose, the methodology that was recommended by the Polish certification system of sustainable biofuels and bioliquids production, as approved by the European Commission, was used. The calculated emission values vary between 41.5 kg CO2eq/t and 147.2 kg CO2eq/t dry matter. The highest average emissions were obtained for wheat (103.6 kg CO2eq/t), followed by maize (100.5 kg CO2eq/t), triticale (95.4 kg CO2eq/t), and rye (72.5 kg CO2eq/t). The greatest impact on the total GHG emissions from biomass production is caused by field emissions of nitrous oxide and emissions from the production and transport of fertilizers and agrochemicals.