Cover Photo Credit to: Leucippus Flickr (CC-BY-NC 2.0).
Climate-fueled growth is increasing at an alarming rate natural disasters, Extreme weatherExtinction of speciesEnvironmental activists and scientists are becoming more determined to find ways of curbing this trend. TreibhausgasThese are the main causes of climate change. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, heating it up and changing the climate. In 2019, carbon dioxide accounted for about 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Other greenhouse gases like methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gas pose a serious threat to the atmosphere.
Although we are aware of the dangers that greenhouse gases pose, we still have to determine how we measure them. In 2001, more than 20 years after the invention of greenhouse gases, the World Resources InstituteThe World Business Council for Sustainable DevelopmentThe Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) was created by a collaboration of several parties. It serves as an international set for emission guidelines for both public and private entities.
Companies can use GHG Protocol for reporting and tracking their emissions. The protocol allows cities, businesses, and other groups to meet measurable emission goals and standards similar to those set by nations when they signed it. Paris Agreement.
The GHG Protocol separates greenhouse gas emission into three areas based upon how they are created.
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The First scopeScope 1, also known as emissions 1 or direct, refers to emissions that a company produces, such as emissions from fuel combustion that runs machines that make products or engines that power company vehicles.
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Scope 2 covers emissions that the company does not directly create, but uses such as electricity or heating.
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The Scope 3 emissionsThis category covers all other emissions that are released by a company. Value chainThis refers to the process by which raw materials are taken and transformed into products. Scope 3 emissions covers all emissions that a company is involved with, but is not necessarily responsible for. This category can be divided into upstream or downstream activities. The upstreamThis group includes emissions from the supplier side, such as travel, purchase goods and services, and transportation and distribution. This category also includes capital goods like buildings and machinery. DownstreamThe emissions created by the product’s arrival at the consumer are the main focus. This includes franchises, investments, and the disposal of products that have been sold.
Image credit: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
While companies may discuss and disclose the scope 1 and 2, scope 3 emissions are often overlooked. This is particularly problematic as scope 3 emissions have the most impact on the climate. Scope 3 emissions are essential if we want to reduce our carbon output as well as slow climate change.
For example, the greenhouse gases emitted by logging a tree and transporting it to the pulp mill to make wood pulp, then operating the mill to turn the pulp into wood pulp, and finally transferring the wood pulp from the mill to a manufacturing plant, are all upstream emissions of Scope 3. Scope 1 and 2 emissions are caused by the operation of a manufacturing plant to make a package of tissues. Scope 3 emissions result from a consumer driving to a shop to buy tissues, and then throwing away the tissues in a garbage can so that they eventually release carbon into a landfill.
Scope 3 emissions are often responsible for the majority of a company’s carbon footprint. Sometimes, these percentages can reach as high as 5%. 85% to 90% of total emissions. This number is particularly high for companies. Outsource certain aspects their business, such as product manufacturing or logging.
The Environmental Protection Agency It is necessaryLarge emitters are required to report scope 1 or scope 2 emissions. They are not required to report any scope 3 emissions and seldom do so voluntarily. It is difficult to track all scope 3 emissions. However, it is harmful to any attempt to reduce them.
A business that fails to account for scope 3 emissions could achieve net zero emissions goals. It could address scope 1 and 2, and market itself as a green firm while completely disregarding the majority of its carbon footprint. Despite this loophole, the idea to require companies to report their scope 3 emissions is highly contentious.
According to companies, the problem is that emissions from scope 3 are not allowed. It can be difficult, or even impossible.To tabulate. To reduce emissions from scope 3, companies must have access to data and information about their supply chains in order to set science-based targets. This information is not availableThis could be because companies are not motivated to streamline data collection processes. But it is possible. Ceres, a non-profit that promotes market-based solutions for climate change, says it. More than 3,000 companiesReport their scope 3 emissions. It’s possible.
The world faces a significant challenge in mitigating climate risk if it does not focus on the scope 3 emissions. These emissions offer the greatest chance to reduce carbon emissions. Other efforts to regulate and report emissions are more effective than efficient if they do not include all carbon outputs in a company’s value chain. It is time for companies to take the initiative to count their 3 emissions, for the good of the planet and all its inhabitants.
Abby Vander Graaff, an intern at Environment America, co-authored this blog.