What is Emissions ?
Emissions refer to the release of pollutants or greenhouse gases into the air, water or land due to human activities. These pollutants can have negative impacts on the environment, human health and climate.
The most common types of emissions associated with human activities include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and various other air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.
Emissions can come from various sources such as power generation, transportation, industrial processes, agriculture, and deforestation. The level of emissions and the specific pollutants that are released can vary widely depending on the type of activity and the technologies and practices used.
Green House Gases
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat and cause the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a natural process that helps to keep the Earth’s surface warm enough to support life.
However, human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes have significantly increased the levels of GHGs in the atmosphere, leading to an enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming.
The most common greenhouse gases are:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) which is emitted primarily through the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and deforestation.
- Methane (CH4) which is emitted through the production and transport of coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as from livestock and other agricultural practices.
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) which is emitted from the use of fertilizers, burning of fossil fuels and other industrial processes.
- Fluorinated gases such as Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) which are emitted from refrigeration, air conditioning, and other industrial processes.
These gases are transparent to visible light, but they trap heat energy from the sun, warming the surface of the Earth. The concentration of these gases in the atmosphere, especially CO2, has risen significantly in the last century, due to human activities. This has led to an increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature, known as global warming, which is causing climate change and its impacts on the environment, economy and society.
Greenhouse gas emissions are divided into three categories for businesses and organizations – Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3.
Differentiate Scope 1,2,3 Emissions
Scope 1 emissions refer to direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by an organization. Examples include emissions from combustion of fossil fuels in boilers or vehicles.
Scope 2 emissions refer to indirect GHG emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling consumed by an organization.
Scope 3 emissions refer to all other indirect emissions that are a result of the activities of an organization, but occur from sources not owned or controlled by the organization. Examples include emissions from the production and disposal of purchased goods and services, employee commuting, and waste disposal. Scope 3 is subdivided into two parts Upstream Activities and Downstream Activities.
To calculate these emissions, an organization can use various methods such as through monitoring and measuring the emissions directly, using data from suppliers and vendors, or using emissions factors and calculation tools provided by organizations such as the GHG Protocol.
Upstream & Downstream Activities in Scope 3 emissions
Upstream activities that can result in emissions include:
- Extracting and producing fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
- Extracting and producing raw materials for industrial processes such as mining and quarrying
- Manufacturing, transportation and use of fertilizers, leading to emissions of Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Downstream activities that can result in emissions include:
- Using and disposing of products, such as emissions from the burning of gasoline in vehicles or emissions from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills.
- Disposing of waste, such as emissions from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills.
- The use of products by the end-users, such as emissions from the use of electricity by household.
Calculating Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions
Scope 1 emissions :
Refer to direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by an organization. These emissions are under the direct control of the organization and can be directly measured or estimated. Some examples of Scope 1 emissions include:
- Combustion of fossil fuels in boilers and generators to produce heat or electricity on-site.
- Emissions from vehicles owned or operated by the organization, such as company cars and delivery trucks.
- Fugitive emissions from equipment leaks, such as leaks of methane from natural gas pipelines or storage tanks.
- Agricultural activities such as enteric fermentation in livestock, manure management
- Emissions from stationary combustion of biomass.
To calculate Scope 1 emissions, an organization can use methods such as direct measurement, using data from fuel suppliers, or using emissions factors provided by organizations such as the GHG Protocol. It’s also important to note that these emissions are usually subject to mandatory or voluntary reporting requirements, such as the GHG Protocol or the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards.
Scope 2 emissions:
IT refer to indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling consumed by an organization. These emissions are not directly under the control of the organization, but are a result of the organization’s consumption of purchased energy. Some examples of Scope 2 emissions include:
Emissions from electricity purchased from the grid and consumed on-site.
Emissions from steam or hot water purchased from a district heating or cooling system and consumed on-site.
Emissions from the production of heat or electricity at a remote location and then transported to the organization’s site for consumption.
To calculate Scope 2 emissions, an organization can use methods such as using data from utility companies, or using emissions factors and calculation tools provided by organizations such as the GHG Protocol. It’s also worth noting that these emissions are usually subject to mandatory or voluntary reporting requirements, such as the GHG Protocol or the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards.
It’s worth noting that some organizations may choose to offset their scope 2 emissions by investing in renewable energy projects. This allows an organization to reduce the emissions associated with their energy consumption, regardless of whether or not they have direct control over the energy production.
Scope 3 emissions :
It refer to all other indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are a result of the activities of an organization, but occur from sources not owned or controlled by the organization. These emissions are not under the direct control of the organization and can be more difficult to measure or estimate. Some examples of Scope 3 emissions include:
Emissions from the production and disposal of purchased goods and services, such as emissions from the manufacturing of products that an organization sells.
- Emissions from employee commuting, such as emissions from employees driving to work or taking public transportation.
- Emissions from waste disposal, such as emissions from the decomposition of organic waste in a landfill.
- Emissions from the extraction and production of purchased raw materials, such as emissions from the extraction of oil or gas used in the production of plastics.
- Emissions from business travel.
- Emissions from the use of sold or provided products.
To calculate Scope 3 emissions, an organization can use methods such as surveys, data from suppliers and vendors, or using emissions factors and calculation tools provided by organizations such as the GHG Protocol. It’s also worth noting that these emissions are usually subject to voluntary reporting requirements, such as the GHG Protocol or the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards.
Scope 3 emissions can represent a significant portion of an organization’s overall emissions and it’s important for organizations to consider and track these emissions in order to have a complete understanding of their environmental impact and identify areas for improvement.
Reporting Scope 1, 2 , 3 Emissions
Reporting Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions involves compiling information about the emissions from each of these sources, and presenting it in a clear and transparent manner. Organizations can report their emissions using various standards, such as the GHG Protocol or the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards.
To report Scope 1 and 2 emissions, organizations typically need to gather information on their fuel consumption, energy consumption, and the associated emissions factors. This information can be obtained through direct measurement, data from fuel and energy suppliers, and emissions factors provided by organizations such as the GHG Protocol.
To report Scope 3 emissions, organizations may need to gather information from suppliers, vendors, and other external sources. This can include data on the emissions associated with the production and disposal of purchased goods and services, employee commuting, and waste disposal. Organizations may also need to survey employees or use other methods to gather information on these emissions.
Once the emissions data has been collected, it can be presented in a report or disclosed in a public forum, such as a sustainability report or on a company website. The report should include a clear and concise summary of the emissions data, as well as information on the methods used to gather and calculate the emissions. It should also include any action plan to reduce the emissions and mitigate the impact on the environment.
It’s worth noting that reporting emissions is a complex process and organizations may need to consult with experts or use specialized software to ensure that the data is accurate and compliant with the reporting standards being used
Reporting emissions with GRI standards
Collecting data for reporting on Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards can involve several different steps and methods.
For Scope 1 emissions, data can be collected through direct measurement of emissions from on-site combustion of fossil fuels, emissions from company vehicles, and equipment leaks. This data can be collected using monitoring equipment and software, and by tracking fuel consumption and usage. Organizations can also use data from fuel suppliers and emissions factors provided by organizations such as the GHG Protocol to estimate emissions.
For Scope 2 emissions, data can be collected through utility bills, by using data from energy suppliers or from measurement of steam or hot water consumption. Organizations can also use emissions factors and calculation tools provided by organizations such as the GHG Protocol to estimate emissions.
For Scope 3 emissions, data can be collected through surveys, data from suppliers and vendors, or by using emissions factors and calculation tools provided by organizations such as the GHG Protocol. Organizations can also gather data on the emissions associated with the production and disposal of purchased goods and services, employee commuting, waste disposal, business travel and use of products.
It’s important to note that the GRI Standards is a voluntary framework and the specific data collection methods will depend on the level of disclosure (core or comprehensive) and the specific disclosure that an organization chooses to report on. Organizations should also consider the completeness, accuracy, consistency and transparency of the data collection methods and process.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) can remain in the Earth’s atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years. Once CO2 is released into the atmosphere, it can stay there for a very long time, due to the slow processes that remove it. Some of the ways that CO2 can be removed from the atmosphere include:
- Photosynthesis: CO2 is absorbed by plants and used to produce oxygen and organic matter through the process of photosynthesis.
- Ocean Absorption: CO2 can also be absorbed by the oceans, where it can be used by marine organisms or eventually be dissolved into the deep ocean.
- Chemical reactions: CO2 can also be removed from the atmosphere through chemical reactions with rock and soil, a process known as weathering.
However, these processes can take hundreds to thousands of years to remove significant amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. As a result, once CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere, it can have a warming effect on the planet for a very long time. This is why it’s important for us to take action to reduce our CO2 emissions and slow the rate at which we are adding CO2 to the atmosphere.
Practices that can help manage & reduce Emissions
There are a variety of technologies and practices that organizations can use to manage and reduce their emissions from Scope 1, 2 and 3 sources. Some of the most common technologies and practices include:
Scope 1 Emissions:
- Energy efficiency improvements such as upgrading lighting systems, motors, and other equipment, and improving insulation and sealing to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool buildings.
- On-site renewable energy generation such as solar, wind, and geothermal systems to reduce the need for fossil fuels.
- Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, which capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and store them underground.
- Electric vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles to reduce emissions from transportation.
Scope 2 Emissions:
- Energy efficiency improvements such as upgrading lighting systems, motors, and other equipment, and improving insulation and sealing to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool buildings.
- Renewable energy procurement, such as purchasing energy from renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydro power to reduce emissions from purchased electricity.
- Demand-side management, such as shifting energy consumption to times when renewable energy is more available.
Scope 3 Emissions:
- Supply chain management, such as working with suppliers and vendors to reduce emissions in their operations and encouraging them to use more sustainable practices.
- Employee commuting and business travel, such as promoting telecommuting, carpooling, and public transportation options to reduce emissions from transportation.
- Product stewardship, such as designing products that are more energy efficient and have a longer lifecycle to reduce emissions associated with the production and disposal of products.
- Carbon offsetting, such as investing in renewable energy projects or carbon offset projects to offset emissions.
It’s worth noting that the specific technology or practice that is most appropriate will depend on the specific emissions source, the organization’s operations and resources, and the regulatory and market context.
One may also choose to adopt a combination of different technologies and practices for a more comprehensive and effective emissions reduction strategy.
