Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Geographical Jurisdictions - Case Study Example

 Options Available to Local Authorities (LAs) in Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Their Geographical Jurisdictions CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1.1 Scientific considerations of carbon footprint 1.2 Aims and objectives of the report 1.3 Effects of climate change on our economy 2. Role of Local Bodies in Tackling Climate Change Issue 2.1 Options to local authorities 2.2 Constraints 3. Environment Management and Sustainable Development 3.1 Constraints to business 4. Corporate Initiatives : Cognitive Approach 5. Conclusion REFERENCES 1. INTRODUCTION: 1.1 Definition : scientific considerations of carbon footprint The carbon footprint’ needs to be defined to clear the confusions prevailing about the term. The definition given by Weidmann and Minx (2007) state carbon footprint as a measure of the exclusive total amount of carbon dioxide emissions that is caused by an activity or is accumulated over the life stages of a product. This includes activities of individuals, establishments and industry etc. and the products are goods and services. In any case, all direct and indirect emissions need to be taken into account. Direct emissions occur through household and business energy consumption while indirect emissions occur during the generation of electricity and the production of goods and services. Weidmann and Minx (2007) include only CO2 in the analysis though greenhouse gases are a mixture methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide etc.,along with CO2, many of these cannot be measured like CO2. Moreover, they feel when all gases included it should be termed 'climate footprint' instead since many of the gases do not even have carbon. Why there is the need to go for reduction in CO2 footprint and encourage ‘carbon offsetting’? Carbon offsetting is creation of carbon sinks e.g. planting trees that absorb CO2. The emission of greenhouse gases cause global warming i.e. the global temperature may increase more than 2oC by the end of this century. The government has proposed a Climate Change Bill whereby a target of reducing CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050 has been set. But there are doubts about this target as the research indicated that reduction in carbon footprint should exceed 60% to keep temperature increase within 20C. This is a reason for the alert signal the global warming has created the worldover. The CO2 emission in UK households is shown below, the transport and energy consumption being the biggest emitters (Fig. 1 . from Weidmann and Minx 2007 from SEI et. al. 2006). FIG. 1 1.2 Aims and Objectives of the Report The present report is an attempt to search for the answers of the following: 1. What are the probable effects of climate change on our economy? 2. What are the options to the local authorities to reduce carbon footprint of their area. What are their strengths and constraints? 3. How do corporate can help combat global warming. Can they be model for cognitive approach to this issue?. 4. How sustainable development is linked to environment management? 1.3 Effects of Climate Changes on our Economy The climate change due to carbon emission may affect the world economy as follows: • The productivity of food to be reduced, increasing the prices of all basic commodities along with food • Increasing the household and business consumption of energy and costs since cooling uses more energy than heating. • Increasing heat related illnesses and infectious diseases affecting quality of life • Damage to the natural environment and disturbing the biodiversity • Parts of Africa and Asia may become uninhabitable through drought or flooding as a result other parts of world coming under pressure due to migration (Man.City Council,2008)). 2. Role of Local Bodies in Tackling Climate Change Issue 2.1 OPTIONS AND INITIATIVES Consider an example of Manchester in UK. The Manchester City Council (2008) quotes DEFRA (2004) that the city emits over 3.3 million tonnes of CO2 annually. The break up is 47% commercial, 30% domestic and 23% transport. The domestic emissions per household at 2.6 tonnes are somewhat higher than other cities. To achieve 60% reduction in carbon emission by 2050 about 100 wind turbines needs to be installed or all the industry of the city would have to reduce their energy use by half. The enormity of the task requires that everyone in Manchester take action not just one sector. We need to change the way we live. The Man.City Council (2008) plans to tackle the issue of climate change by: Mitigation : Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from man made activities particularly from the use of fossil fuels like oil, coal and gas. Movements and projects to be encouraged that aim at improving energy efficiency in buildings, reducing the need of private transport and reducing waste sent to landfill. Adaptation : The local council needs to plan for risks of extreme weather incidents like flood defense, modify urban drainage systems and plant more trees in urban areas for shade and carbon offsetting. Manchester Local authorities plan to make it a low carbon city by 2020. and make it attractive to develop low carbon technologies and services. The other options to LA are converting landfill waste into electricity, offering interest-free loans for people to invest in microgeneration technology for individual or group use and even issuing local resident with a carbon credit cards to keep household CO2 emissions within limits. (MacGregor, 2007) 3.2 CONSTRAINTS In the UK, local authorities are directly elected bodies with roles in areas of education, health, regeneration and planning. However, unlike in other parts of Europe, they have only limited power to undertake any activities in the interest of their communities. The UK local authorities can do only what they are statutorily permitted by the central government.. (Bulkeley and Betsill from Wilson and Game 1998). However, they are often granted discretionary powers that allow modification in measures to suit their local requirements (Belkeley and Betsill). 2. ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENTAND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT It was Thomas Malthus who highlighted as early as 1798 that humanity is in danger of utilising the Earth’s resources, or ‘natural capital’, at a rate faster than it can be regenerated. The 2002 world summit also emphasised that socio-economic development with environmental protection is the sustainable development. The Earth summit in 2002 has recognised environment also as a pillar, along with society and economy, of development. Despite the use of advanced technologies, the developed nations have high carbon ratio. Hence, measures will need to be placed on the on development and use of “low or zero carbon (LZC) technologies, such as energy efficiency measures, nuclear power or renewable energy systems”. Energy intensities decrease with economic wealth; it steers nations towards sustainable development. Developed nations are getting services orientated, thus are less energy intensive while the developing countries with heavy industry are spending more energy per capita. (Cranston et.al). The energy consumption and production both should be managed for sustainable development. The indicators for policy decisions for energy management to include: energy supply per unit of GDP and per capita, the structure of a country’s energy supply and due changes in it , energy prices for end-users. (Tow. Sus. Dev., 1998) 3.1 CONSTRAINTS TO BUSINESS: The emphasis on reduction in energy consumption and use of newer technologies creates time constraints and increase financial costs of operations. Besides, there is often a lack of clear information on how to make right choice. These pose barriers to taking action on climate change and reducing carbon footprints. Industry is often accused of putting profit before environment consideration which made Bowie (1990 p89) comment “Environmentalists frequently argue that business has special obligations to pro- tect the environment. Although I agree with the environmentalists on this point, I do not agree with them as to where the obligations lie.” Bowie (1990) further states, that when confronted with illegal and hazardous deeds by business, the Environmentalists need only to insist that business obey the laws and to accomplish this, the best way is to model business operations around the specifications of the Environment Management System (EMS) standards. These standards are International as well as individual nation’s own. Standards provide not only a specification, these guide and advice on wide ranges of environmental issues including auditing, labeling, life-cycle assessment etc. On the international front, the relatively new one from 14000 series is ISO14001. At the European level we have EMAS, or the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. UK prefers to follow the International standard 14001. All of the EMS standards stress to protect the environment, not only for ourselves but for future generations to come (Environ. Manag. Sys.). 4. Corporate Environment Management: COGNITIVE APPROACH The British Gas initiated Green Street project in association with Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR). (Eccleston, 2008). It involves 64 families in eight different cities in (UK) as model households to energy saving (Table – 1). The members almost halved their energy use. They now have sustained enthusiasm and behavioral change to make it a way of life. They are coming up with innovative ideas also One London household reduced its gas use by 45 per cent by installing loft insulation and thermostatic heating controls. Green Streets produced better community spirit, enhanced communication between neighbors to compaign for and spread the support to practise energy efficient behaviour. Eccleston (2008) highlights the recommendations originated from the success of the project 1. The extension of project with energy advisers scheme would produce potential savings of £4.6bn. 2. To encourage banks and energy companies to grant loans for the installation of energy saving technology. 3. Instead of individual households, communities would be offered incentives and prizes to change their behaviour and encourage greater participation of people. Table-1. Percentage of energy use reduction (Eccleston 2008) 5. CONCLUSION: There will be negative effects on world’s food productivity, human health, biodiversity etc due to carbon emission. The local authorities in UK have statutory powers, they have to follow the central government’s guidelines and directives. There are discretionary powers, though, to make modification as per requirements to their particular geographic areas (Bulkeley and Betsill). LAs focus their attention on reducing carbon emission (mitigation) as well as preparing to combat adverse effects of climate change, which may still happen (adaptation) (Man.City Council, 2007). The good environment practices, for reducing fossil fuel, and energy consumption and use of newer technology, are to be emphasized. The corporate initiatives, though small, do make useful contributions and provide well-tested recommendations for wider applications using cognitive approach (Eccleston, 2007). Besides business must model their operations around international environmental safety standards. In a nutshell, it is not the duty of a single sector but every one has to put in effective contribution in preventing the global warming. REFERENCES: Eccleston, P. 2007. ‘Green Street project reduces Carbon Footprint and Energy Bills’, The Telegraph viewed 8 Aug 2008 Weidmann, T & Minx, J 2007, A Definition of ‘Carbon Footprint’ ,ISA UK Research Report 07-01. Viewed 8 Aug 2008 Manchester City Council 2008, The principle of tackling climate change in Manchester, Report for Information. Viewed 7 Aug. 2008 Towards Sustainable Development: Environmental Indicators, 1998, OECD, Paris Bowie, N 1990, ‘Morality, Money and Motorcars’ in Hoffman, WM., Frederick, R. & Petry, ES. (Eds). Business’, Ethics and the Environment: The Public Policy debate,, Quorum Books, New York. MacGregor, J 2007 Carbon Footprints, Local Steps: How local government can Rise to the climate change challenge, NLGN, viewed 6 Aug 2008 Bulkeley, H & Betsill, MM, Cities and Climate Change: Urban Sustainability and Global Environmental Governance, Routledge, London viewed 7 Aug 2008 Cranston, GR , Hammond, GP & Johnson, RC ‘Exploring the Factors that Influence National Environmental Footprints’ viewed Aug 6 2008 Environmental Management Systems viewed Aug 8 2008 < http://www.quality.co.uk/ecoadvic.htm> Read More