About GHG Emissions and Carbon Footprints
What are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?
In the climate change context, emissions are releases of gases, from human-related activity, which lead to global warming by enhancing the earth's natural greenhouse effect. The main greenhouse gas (GHG) is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is released through the burning of fossil fuels from various activities, including power generation and transportation, and deforestation. Other important GHGs are methane (mainly from agriculture, but also from landfill waste), nitrous oxide (from agriculture and fossil fuel burning), sulphur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons.
Why do GHG emissions need special management?
GHG emissions from human activity need to be significantly reduced in order to reduce the risk of global climate change. For businesses, the key benefit from reducing GHG emissions is that it generally means a reduction in use of energy and therefore achieves cost savings. At a time of rising energy costs, the incentive for efficient use is clear. There are also a vareity of compelling market and supply-chain competitive advantages.
How are GHG emissions managed?
Reductions in GHG emissions are achieved by either eliminating, or improving the efficiency of, activities which release GHGs. For businesses, this generally means improving the efficiency of energy use, modifying transportation practices and minimising waste, through systematic assessment of these activities and adapting more efficient modes of operation.
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the measure of an entity’s GHG emissions (including all GHGs, not just carbon dioxide). The entity can be an organisation, project, event, product, service or individual. The most common type of carbon footprint is for an organisation. CarbonGroup provides a suite of integrated services for businesses in the area of carbon footprint measurement and management. These services are based on a systematic emissions management process.