The document provides an overview of climate change and climate action planning. It discusses the greenhouse effect, impacts of climate change, sources of emissions, and governments' legal frameworks and carbon pricing initiatives. It then covers why businesses should plan for climate action, how to define and take action through measuring carbon footprints and selecting strategies. The major areas for climate action are identified as electricity and heating, buildings, water, transportation, refrigeration, materials and waste, and land use.
Climate Change: A Business Guide to Action Planning
1.
2. TODAY’S
AGENDA
I. Climate Change: The Basics
o The Greenhouse Effect
o Impacts of Climate Change
o Main Sources of Emissions
II. Climate Action Planning: Setting the Stage
o Governments and Legal Framework
o Carbon Pricing
o Responsible Investment
o Sustainability and Carbon Reporting
III. Climate Action Planning for Business
o Why Plan? Benefits
o What Is It? Definitions
o All About Carbon Footprint
o Taking Action
o Major Topic Areas for Action
IV. A Few Tips for Success
o Where to Start
o How to Communicate
4. THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Climate change is caused by CO2 and other greenhouse gases
that trap the sun’s heat (just like the glass in a greenhouse)
5. MAJOR IMPACTS of CLIMATE CHANGE
Higher temperatures (global warming)
Greater fluctuations in temperature (hot/cold extremes)
Extreme weather events and storms
Sea level rise (coastlines)
Ocean heating and acidification (marine food chain)
Droughts
Loss of fresh water (evaporation; intrusion of salt water)
Agricultural disruptions (crop damage)
Changes in plant and animal communities (pests and disease)
Earth’s climate is a complex and interrelated system, and therefore
climate change impacts can vary greatly by location.
What is happening in your locale?
6. CLIMATE vs. WEATHER:
A Matter of Time
Weather:
Atmospheric conditions that occur locally over short periods of
time (minutes, hours or days)
Climate:
Regional or global average temperature, humidity and rainfall
patterns over long periods of time (seasons, years or decades)
“If you don’t like the weather in New England,
just wait a few minutes.”
- Mark Twain
9. LEGAL FRAMEWORK: GOVERNMENTS AND LAWS
“In 2017 there are more than 1,200 climate change laws and executive policies
across 164 countries (accounting for 95% of global greenhouse gas
emissions).”
Climate Change Laws of the World database,
Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and
Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
http://www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/legislation/
10. CARBON PRICING
"74 jurisdictions (46 national and 28 sub-national) in the world have
implemented, or are scheduled to implement, carbon pricing initiatives."
World Bank (May 2018)
https://carbonpricingdashboard.worldbank.org/
11. RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
“Climate change is king. This commitment to climate change-related investing
remains a dominant focus among investors, corporations and other key
influencers.”
- Forbes magazine, Oct. 3 2018
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nuveen/2018/10/03/why-responsible-investment-is-here-to-stay/#7864ef882008
12. SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING
“Eighty-five percent (85%) of the companies in the S&P 500 Index® published
sustainability or corporate responsibility reports in 2017.”
Governance & Accountability Institute
https://www.ga-institute.com/
13. CARBON REPORTING
“In 2018, over 7,000 companies disclosed through CDP – an 11%
increase on the previous year.”
Mandatory carbon reporting (UK)
CDP
https://www.cdp.net/en/info/about-us
15. WHY PLAN? Benefits
Comply with government rules
Navigate carbon markets
Meet requirements and expectations of investors
Communicate with other interested stakeholders (customers
and employees)
Reduce risk (operational and supply chain disruptions)
Cost savings and efficiency (bottom line cost savings)
Innovation and competitive advantage (top line sales
opportunity with better products)
16. CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
Definition:
A strategic framework developed by an organization for the purpose
of reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and related
climatic impacts.
Includes Specific:
Tasks (what)
Resources (how and who)
Times (when)
17. ACTION PLANNING STEPS
Develop baseline carbon footprint
Set reduction targets
Select actions and strategies to achieve reductions
Assign responsibilities
Allocate resources
Monitor, track, and report on progress
Repeat!
18. CARBON FOOTPRINT/CARBON INVENTORY
Definition:
The total greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly caused by an
organization
Measurement:
Identify sources of GHG emissions (where it’s coming from)
Use standardized protocols (ISO, GHG Protocol, etc.)
Expressed as Carbon Dioxide equivalent (tons of CO2e)
Reporting:
Through major sustainability reporting protocols (CDP, GRI, IIRC etc.)
19. CARBON FOOTPRINT: Step 1
Greenhouse Gases
There are six major Greenhouse Gases (GHGs):
1) Carbon dioxide (CO2)
2) Methane (CH4)
3) Nitrous oxide (N2O)
4) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
5) Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
6) Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
Each GHG has a different “potency” (ability to trap heat) known as its
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
Example:
R-22 (the most commonly used HFC refrigerant) has a
GWP=1810, which means that one pound of R-22 is nearly as
potent as one ton of CO2
20. CARBON FOOTPRINT: Step 2
Scopes 1,2, and 3
Scope 1: Direct Emissions
From burning fuel onsite for heating or
power, refrigerant leaks, gasoline for
company motor fleet
Scope 2: Indirect Emissions
From electricity, heat or steam purchased
from a utility provider and used to heat and
run buildings and facilities
Scope 3: Indirect Emissions
From employee business travel and
commuting, product use, waste and
wastewater treatment, contractor activities,
supply chain and purchased materials
23. ACTION STRATEGIES
Reduce or eliminate GHG emissions (stop contributing to the problem)
Lessen negative impacts of Climate Change (adaptation or mitigation-
dealing with the impacts of today)
Draw-down existing GHGs in atmosphere (actually make the problem
better)
Remember:
ALL approaches are valuable!
Do what makes sense for your business
Everything counts
Many inter-relate (2-for-1 benefits)
24. MAJOR AREAS FOR ACTION
Electricity and Heating
Buildings
Water
Transportation
Refrigeration
Materials and Waste
Agriculture and Land Use
25. AREAS FOR ACTION:
Electricity and Heating
The burning of coal, natural gas, and oil for electricity and heat is
the largest single source of global greenhouse gas emissions
worldwide (25%)
Planning for transition to “clean” (non-carbon) energy usage
over time is key.
Many energy sources are available or under development:
Wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, wave and tidal,
biomass, nuclear, cogeneration, waste to energy, fusion
Energy storage technologies are allowing greater use of
intermittent sources (such as solar or wind)
Energy efficiency and conservation are still important measures
(using less)
26. AREAS FOR ACTION:
Buildings
Buildings are responsible for about 40% of worldwide energy use
Energy is used for heating, air conditioning, heating, lighting,
and cooking
Many technologies and ways to significantly reduce emissions:
Use of green building standards (LEED, BREEAM, etc.)
Building codes and municipal ordinances (mandatory)
Net zero (and now even Net positive) energy efficient
buildings
Building and appliance product certifications (Energy Star,
Green Seal, etc.)
Efficient LED lighting
Better insulation
Double-paned glass
Natural light and ventilation
Green roofs
27. AREAS FOR ACTION:
Water
Water is a heavy material, and its use consumes a great deal of energy
related to transporting, cleaning, heating, and treating of wastewater
Conserving water reduces GHG emissions
Landscaping use outdoors ~30% water usage
Low-flush fixtures
Leak repair detection and prompt repair programs
Low-flow commercial dishwashers
Lower water temperatures for washing and industrial purposes
28. AREAS FOR ACTION:
Transportation
Transportation (via road, rail, air, marine, and refrigeration in transit)
makes up almost 15% of worldwide GHG emissions
95% of the world's transportation energy comes from petroleum-
based fuels, largely gasoline and diesel
Logistics for “smarter” shipping
Reduce product and packaging weight
Packaging - no wasted space
Consolidate routes and loads
More efficient engines for trucks, planes, and ships
29. AREAS FOR ACTION:
Refrigeration
Refrigerant gases are very potent GHGs and used widely for:
Air conditioners in buildings and vehicles
Refrigerators and freezers for food and perishable items
Propellants in consumer aerosol products (such as aerosol
paint, personal care products, tire inflators, etc.)
Spray foam insulation and other foam
Globally, HFCs will be phased out over the next decade (through
amendment to Montreal Protocol). Substitutes are already on the
market.
Important to have leak avoidance and detection programs (check on
your HVAC contractors!)
Effective storage and disposal is key (since 90% of emissions
happen at end of life). Refrigerants can be purified for reuse or
transformed into other chemicals that do not cause warming.
30. AREAS FOR ACTION:
Material Use and Waste
Reducing material use and waste (in all forms) can have significant
impacts on reducing GHG emissions.
Production of materials and food uses significant resources and
releases GHG emissions (e.g., metals, chemicals, oil refining,
cement production, paper, semiconductors, agriculture, livestock)
Methane (a strong GHG) is released from trash in landfills,
especially organic materials such as food waste.
Zero Waste and Circular Economy movements are both based on
the concept that there is no “waste, only wasted resources.”)
Added 2 more Rs to the original 3Rs, so now it’s the 5 Rs
[Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle], in that order
For further reading:
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/
http://zwia.org/standards/zero-waste-hierarchy/
31. AREAS FOR ACTION:
Land Use
Some terminology: Carbon sequestration = storage of carbon (for
example, in soils, forests, and wetlands) = carbon sink (the opposite
of source)
Carbon emissions from deforestation are ~18% of GHG emissions
(release of carbon from burning)
Restoration and regrowth of trees can reverse this (carbon sink)
Changing land use practices is an effective way to both prevent
emissions AND remove excess carbon from the atmosphere
Storing carbon in farm soils and livestock grazing methods are
important climate change solutions (regenerative agriculture)
Protecting coastal wetlands as a major carbon sink
Business can support these actions – even if they aren’t in these
industries -- by supporting local projects or verified carbon offset
projects (tropical reforestation, etc.)
33. Where to Start
For carbon footprint, start with Scope 1 and 2 emissions first (under
your control). Scope 3 can come later.
Involve your organization’s Facilities, Operations, and Engineering
groups as key partners – these are the groups where a lot of things get
done and decided!
Tie in with existing programs already supported and underway (e.g.,
ISO 14001, UN Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainability
Reporting)
Choose priorities based a mix of time horizon and ease of achievement
(i.e., some quick, easy wins and some longer term major projects)
34. How to Communicate
To help win the support of senior management (C-Suite), focus on
the benefits of a proposed action, and show how it can aid in
reducing risk.
Work with your Communications and Media Relations groups to help
them meet the growing demand for public disclosure and
information.
“2 (or 3)-for-1” wins: Reinforce the message that many climate-
related actions can provide multiple benefits. Reducing energy,
water, materials, and waste almost always deliver cost savings and
conserve resources in addition to reducing the impact of climate
change.
35. Copyright 2015, Logical Management Systems, Corp., all rights reserved
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2 Days Course
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2 Days Course
Exam and certification fees are included in the training price.
https://pecb.com/en/education-and-certification-for-individuals
www.pecb.com/events
36. Copyright 2015, Logical Management Systems, Corp., all rights reserved
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