Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change (2010) / Chapter Skim
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6 Informing Greenhouse Gas Management
6 Informing Greenhouse Gas Management
Pages 205-234
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From page 205... ...
Both public and private organizations report information on greenhouse gas emissions, often using standards and methods geared toward a specific application (e.g., regulation, carbon trading, or national obligations to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [UNFCCC]
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From page 206... ...
Black dashed arrows represent the transfer of emissions information collected by 6-1.eps various entities (e.g., companies, local governments, and non-governmental organizations) for different bitmap purposes (energy efficiency, registries, and carbon markets)
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From page 207... ...
In the following three sections, monitoring, reporting protocols, and verification, collectively termed MRV, are discussed and the commonly accepted processes to manage greenhouse gas emissions are presented. In the next two sections, inventories and registries and carbon offsets are discussed, respectively, and example mechanisms are provided that serve the functions of MRV.
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From page 208... ...
, but use of FIGURE 6.2 Deutsche Bank, in collaboration with scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, created the Carbon Counter, a 20-meter billboard displayed in New York City's Madison Square Garden, to demonstrate to the public a running estimate6-2.eps of increasing global greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. SOURCE: Deutsche Bank.
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From page 209... ...
. The growing importance of carbon trading and regulation demands regional- and facility-level estimates of greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn requires the development of local and regional emission factors.
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From page 210... ...
from production and iron production (EPA oxidation of reducing agent and flux in steel Climate Leaders, based on production and from removal of carbon from iron WRI GHG Protocol) ore (separate from combustion)
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From page 211... ...
Policy making can benefit from integrated assessments that include, for example, all components of the carbon cycle or radiative processes, including land use, albedo, clouds, and aerosols, so that greenhouse gas emissions can be understood in the context of other important factors that affect the climate.
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From page 212... ...
Such exclusions can create significant gaps in the information needed for regional carbon management. Geographic boundaries are important to avoid double counting of emissions reporting and to ensure full coverage of emissions (Rypdal and Winiwarter, 2001)
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From page 213... ...
Accounting for both direct and indirect emissions enables the most comprehensive carbon management. The threshold for emissions reporting is chosen to balance cost considerations with the need to effectively manage the maximum amount of GHG emissions (Stolaroff et al., 2009)
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From page 214... ...
EPA Climate Leaders, WWF Climate Savers, Business Leaders Initiative on Climate Change) , GHG reg istries (e.g., California Climate Action Registry [CCAR]
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From page 215... ...
In Chapter 2 the panel described the various efforts to respond to climate change by local and state decision makers. Information on accurate emissions collected and accessible at the zip code level would allow decision makers to develop policies and programs specific for a region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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From page 216... ...
The principle differences between them include geographical remit, reporting standards, verification, and inclusion of other carbon management tools such as carbon offsets. However, little research has been done on the comparative benefits and performance of different carbon registries (but see Kollmuss et al., 2008; Pearson et al., 2008)
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From page 217... ...
Reporting California Climate California, linked All direct, and YES (Top-down YES Provides emissions Action Registry to Western Climate indirect emissions consultative) All verified factors to improve (Climate Action Initiative associated with heat Registry-specific CCAR-accredited standardization across Reserve tracks and electricity General Reporting entities undertake data provision; uses emissions)
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From page 218... ...
voluntary based; variable, up No formal standard Some third party, administered by CDP to discretion of each requirement; WRI not a requirement reporting entity GHG Protocol explicitly mentioned; some entities do not specify CDSB (Carbon International, Company/entity NO NO Online reporting, most Disclosure voluntary (in based Standards to be Likely likely similar to CDP Standards Board) preparation)
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From page 219... ...
All Kyoto gases Voluntary Carbon International, Emission reduction YES YES Online registry Standard Registry voluntary data taken from VCS methodologies Projects must be managed by APx ( VCS Registry) (just for offsets and offset registration for projects; third-party verified corporation [offsets]
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From page 220... ...
discusses offsets and their role in overall climate and technology policy; here we focus on the need to establish effective information systems and standards for offset reporting. A wide range of approaches and technologies can be used to create a carbon offset, including investments in industrial and household energy efficiency, industrial and waste facility gas capture or destruction, fuel conversion, renewable energy, forestation and forest protection, and soil management.
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From page 221... ...
However, they are difficult to include as offsets because they can result in double counting of ownership (i.e., indirect emissions reductions from RECs make it difficult to assign reductions to one individual or entity) and may not demonstrate additionality (i.e., investment in renewables may or may not have happened as a result of the REC; Quality Offset Initiative, 2009)
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From page 222... ...
The United States has considerable experience in using standards, labels, and other information to increase energy efficiency, but little experience in using similar approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While government and industry standards can contribute to emissions reductions, easy access to that information, as well as other economic incentives (e.g., tax incentives, utility incentives, etc.)
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From page 223... ...
Multiple standards and guidelines for consumer and public education can confuse and discourage action on emissions reduction. Research has also shown that, although people want information on energy efficiency, they interpret it according to local contexts and personal choices (Gram-Hanssen et al., 2007)
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From page 224... ...
In the United Kingdom, the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates, which must be included in house sale information, has started to drive modest investments in home energy efficiency. Future research in this area should take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding household energy strategies (for review, see Steg, 2008)
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From page 225... ...
Such a system of informing consumers about the energy consumption and costs associated with a wide variety of goods, could be a means of driving behavioral changes in consumption patterns. Energy efficiency information is currently provided by government agencies, such as the EPA and DOE EnergyStar certification program, and by private sector networks, such as the widely adopted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
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From page 226... ...
EnergyStar leverages bottom-up approaches to managing energy efficiency by providing information and incentives to consumers to take action that is in their self interest and that meets wider energy efficiency goals. The greatest savings have been
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From page 227... ...
These calculators are used to estimate emissions from everyday activities. For example, the Nature Conservancy calculator estimates emissions from home energy, driving and flying, food and diet, and recycling and waste.5 Although in principle such calculators can inform household 5 See http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/.
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From page 228... ...
This has contributed to a decline in public confidence in carbon calculations. The EPA has developed a household emissions calculator, which has a good scientific basis but does not include airline travel or food -- two of the most important sources of individual GHG emissions where Americans could make informed choices.6 An informed response to climate change in the United States might benefit from a wider diffusion of an improved EPA/DOE calculator and attention to the risks to public confidence from the proliferation of other calculators and their inconsistencies.
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From page 229... ...
The DOE, EPA, and other agencies provide information on energy efficiency and emissions reductions. The DOE's Energy Information Administration provides some information on greenhouse gases, but it is not tailored to methods for emissions reductions.
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From page 230... ...
Because greenhouse gas emissions relate to the design of products and other information that can influence private sector competitive advantage, some firms and even governments may be reluctant to disclose detailed information. On the other hand, disclosure and labeling can promote more effective actions in a competitive market or social context with firms, local gov 0
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From page 231... ...
Developing such a system will require • Research on greenhouse gas science, monitoring, and the effectiveness of ac counting systems; • Agreement on a national accounting system and standards to report the full range of greenhouse gas emissions using consistent methods, boundaries, baselines, and acceptable thresholds; • High-quality verification schemes, including those for offsets; • Methods to facilitate carbon management in supply chains and to control emissions at the most effective stage in the production-consumption chain; and • A national greenhouse gas registry to track emissions from specific entities. The development of a national GHG system should be informed by existing systems at international, regional, and state scales, operated by governments, consortia, or the private sector.
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From page 232... ...
First, no uniform approach to managing greenhouse gas emissions exists. Harmonization of different approaches is important to ensure that GHG emissions reporting is fair and accountable and that it provides information needed for a broader carbon reduction regime.
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From page 233... ...
Recommendation 8: The federal government should review and promote credible and easily understood standards and labels for energy efficiency and carbon/greenhouse gas information that build public trust, enable effective consumer choice, identify business best practices, and can adapt to new science and new emission reduction goals as needed. The federal government should also consider the establishment of a carbon or greenhouse gas advisory service targeted at the public and small and medium enterprises.
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