Emissions Overview
There is a myriad of information relating to Kyoto and Climate Change - but what are the basic facts and how can organisations respond in a pragmatic manner?
Emissions and the Greenhouse Effect
When energy from the sun reaches the Earth’s surface and warms it, we call it the greenhouse effect. The warming is caused because some of the heat is absorbed by the so-called greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keeping the lower levels considerably warmer than the upper levels. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that keeps the Earth’s surface at a temperature suitable for life.
But scientists indicate that increasing levels of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere from human activities are leading to an enhanced greenhouse effect which has the potential to lead to global warming, climate change and long-term changes to the environment, which could have a negative impact on human and other life.
Carbon dioxide makes the biggest contribution to the enhanced greenhouse effect (about 64%) and methane the second highest contribution (about 20%).
Which Industries can make a difference?
Most industries can make some difference. Before the industrial revolution, the level of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere was relatively constant. With the expansion of industrial activity and increasingly efficient agriculture more greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere.
The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and land clearing are the main causes of these increases, therefore most industries constituting life today have sources of GHG Emissions. Manufacturing and heavy industry are perhaps obvious sources, however any retail or office space where people work will use electricity for lighting and heating. Unless this energy is derived from renewable sources which do not emit GHGs, there will be an impact on emissions by virtue of the energy consumed in these outlets.
Legislation
The United Nations, through its Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) defined its ultimate objective as stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the climate system.
The UNFCCC instigated principles to guide actions to minimise the impact on Climate Change including:
- Cooperation in the development and transfer of technologies, practices and processes that control, reduce or prevent the emissions of greenhouse gases
- The need to take climate change considerations into account in relevant social, economic, and environmental policies and actions
Countries can use a range of flexibility mechanisms to meet their reduction commitments, including emissions trading, joint implementation of measures with other countries, emissions banking, and emission reduction credits for assistance to developing countries.
Reducing Emissions
Organisations are being established to help business to reduce its emissions impact. Help can be gained from local government organisations which provide information and guidance. In the United Kingdom, these include:
Solution providers and consultants also exist to help implement projects or raise awareness; Emissions Strategy Solutions exists for this purpose; its mission is to act as an enabler to emissions reduction – by pragmatic application of training, consulting and solutions for its clients.
Founder and Managing Director, Sue Priest sums up the values of the company thus:
"our yardsticks are
the emissions we reduce,
and the return on investment for our clients"
Updated November 2006
