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Katharina Plassmann Institute for Agricultural Climate Research

Katharina Plassmann Institute for Agricultural Climate Research. Product carbon footprinting: implementation challenges?. Brussels , 7 October 2011. introduction.

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Katharina Plassmann Institute for Agricultural Climate Research

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  1. Katharina Plassmann Institute for Agricultural Climate Research Product carbon footprinting: implementation challenges? Brussels, 7 October 2011

  2. introduction

  3. A product carbon footprint is the sum of all greenhouse gases (GHG) released during the life cycle of a good or service, expressed as CO2 equivalents per unit of product. Carbon footprinting and labelling Figure: from draft WRI Product accounting and reporting standard

  4. Carbon footprinting and labelling Aims: • reduce GHG emissions and prioritise reduction opportunities • provide a baseline • identify cost saving opportunities • incorporate GHG emissions into decision making • demonstrate corporate/environmental responsibility • meet consumer demands for information on greenhouse gas emissions => changed consumption behaviour

  5. Product Carbon Footprinting: Public and private initiatives International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development Grenelle Laws, Agency for the Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) (France) PAS 2050 and Carbon Reduction Label (UK) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan) Carbon Reduction Label (Thailand) Stop Climate Change (Germany) KRAV and SvensktSigill (Sweden) Casino (France) Leclerc(France) Migros(Switzerland) Industry Association initiatives, e.g. International dairy industry

  6. Pcfs of agricultural products: Implementation challenges

  7. Methodological challenges • Scientific understanding of emissions from agricultural production systems around the world incomplete, esp. developing countries. • Lack of knowledge on emissions from developing countries means these systems might not be represented adequately • Agroforestry systems store carbon but cannot claim benefits under current methodologies • Soil carbon changes: usually not included

  8. Practical challenges • numerous product carbon footprinting methodologies • companies might have to comply with multiple labelling initiatives for different markets • awareness and capacity • representativeness of samples • cost of calculation and verification can be high

  9. Particular challenges for smallholder farmers/SMEs • costs of data collection (time, training, development of recording systems, …) • low economies of scale • limited access to information on standards and markets, training, extension services, technologies and certification bodies • potentially lower yields and older technology

  10. Challenging results • schemes vary greatly in approach and methodology applied, e.g. system boundaries • data issues: uncertainties surrounding emission factors lack of emission factors, esp. for developing countries data quality • low comparability of studies (external communication) • supplier selection? • impact on export opportunities?

  11. Carbon footprint of fresh pineapples: 0.2 kg CO2e/kg at the farm gate 11 kg CO2e/kg when air freighted to Europe Processed into jam and shipped to Europe: 1.2 kg CO2e/kg

  12. Conclusions and recommendations

  13. Calculating Product Carbon Footprints can...... • encourage a better use of resources • increase competitiveness and participation in world trade • help preserve the environment and promote sustainable development • encourage the uptake of best practice • be implemented by private and public actors and also encourage consumers to reduce their personal emissions • encourage the use of greener technology

  14. Further development of methods, application & policy making • support for SMEs: capacity building, training, extension services, finance for transition to new technologies/practices • awareness raising amongst businesses, stakeholders and consumers • active participation in international standardisation processes • develop easily accessible and public regional databases • develop low cost approaches to calculation/certification • analyse and showcase economic benefits • research strategies that maximise synergies between adaptation to a changing climate, greenhouse gas emissions reductions and wider sustainability issues (e.g. biodiversity)

  15. Acknowledgements and thanks to:The World Bank (Paul Brenton and Michael Friis Jensen)Gareth Edwards-Jones (Bangor University, UK)Andrew Norton (Renuables, Llanllechid, UK)Thank you!Contact: katharina.plassmann@vti.bund.de katrinplassmann@web.de

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