What is a Carbon Footprint (greenhouse gas emissions assessment)?
To achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050—and thusdrastically reduce the carbon footprint of our consumption, whether of energy or materials—the French government has established a roadmap known as the National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC). It outlines the guidelines and actions to be followed and implemented to achieve thisimportant and essential goal of reducing the environmental footprint of our activities throughout the country. This places the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the reduction of consumption, and the fight against climate change at the forefront of organizations’ new objectives.
The greenhouse gas inventory is the tool naturally favored for contributing to the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement. Compiling it involvesaccounting foran organization’s emissions. To carry it out correctly,accurate data collection and calculations are essential, and everyone wonders how to do thiseffectively and in a waythat educates their organization. Beyond the traditional involvement of specialized consultants, online services like those offered byDecarbo’Solution® have finally emerged, allowing organizations to create their own inventory. The process is quick and easy because it is fully guided and explained online: any organization can thus take ownership of the process, effectively manage its environmental goals, and receive advice on carbon strategy. A greenhouse gas inventory therefore helps organizations maximize their chances of reducing emissions and effectively combating climate change.
GHG Inventory: Definition, Objectives, and Benefits
A greenhouse gas emissions inventory (GHG inventory) provides acomprehensive assessment of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by an organization or a region. It accounts for CO2 emissions as well as all other greenhouse gases, such as nitrogen and methane.
To facilitate the analysis of the collected data, it is broken down and organized into categories, also known as“items.”This categorization makes it possible to identify the items associated with the highest emissions. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions then becomes the organization’s top priority. Decarbonization strategies can then be implemented with a focus on these items.
The assessment is therefore not limited to quantifying emissions; it also makes it possible to implement a plan to reduce them andthus contribute in a concrete way to the fight against climate change. Implementing an emissions reduction plan is, in fact, the key step in a greenhouse gas assessment, as it is the means to achieve carbon neutrality.
In fact, it has many objectives and benefits:
- Developing an Environmental Policy and improving energy efficiency
- Identify steps to reduce energy consumption and, as a result, lower your bill and reduce your overall environmental impact
- Assessing Your Vulnerability
- Stand out by setting an example
- Comply with regulations (if applicable) and respond to requests for proposals
- Engage and motivate your employees (employer brand) or partners through this exercise
Depending on the organization’s objectives, a GHG inventory may be approached in different ways.
It is generally part of a broader effort involving projects and reduction initiatives. Identifying the impact of its energy consumption could potentially lead to a reduction in energy use or a shift toward renewable energy.
When conducted across a broad range of emissions, a GHG inventory makes it possible to assessan organization’s carbon dependence and vulnerability; it can even serve as a basis for reflecting on the company’s development strategy.
Company actions will thus have an impact. Reducing emissions through a GHG inventory is an effective way to combat climate change while improving a company’s strategy. If everyone takes action, global emissions will be reduced, and the impact of these actions will be all the more visible.
See, in this regard, the difference between a carbon footprint and a GHG footprint.
What data should be used?
In order to conduct a comprehensive GHG inventory covering a broad scope of emissions, it is necessary tocollect data on the organization’s activities. This data is divided into two distinct categories:primary data and generic data.
Primary data refers to data known to the organization, such as its annual energy consumption or the quantity of incoming materials. Generic data must be collected from suppliers, customers, or users.
Emissions are then calculated by combining this data withan emission factor. Emission factors are values derived from studies and statistical data and are available in various databases, such asCarbone, DEFRA, and EcoInvent, or provided directly by product and service suppliers (composite emission factors and factors per unit of work), which are much more precise.
Once the calculation is complete, emissions are divided intothree categories called "scopes."
Scopes 1, 2, and 3 refer, respectively, to:
- Emissions directly generated by the organization
- Indirect emissions related to the organization's energy consumption
- Other Indirect Emissions
Emissions categorized in this way make it possible to identify emission sources and trace them back to the original data that needs to be reduced in order to minimize the organization’s environmental impact as much as possible. Emissions reduction is the primary goal of a carbon footprint assessment; the reduction measures undertaken by organizations must aim to minimize emissions as much as possible. Limiting greenhouse gas emissions helps avoid excessive carbon offsetting down the line and makes it easier to achieve the carbon neutrality target set for 2050 by the Paris Agreement.
Make it easier to complete your assessment using the Decarbo’Solution® platform
Calculating your carbon footprint can seem daunting; the Decarbo’Solution® platform (Decarbo’Solution®) has been making this process accessible to everyone since 2012.
Users are guided step by step through the process of collecting initial data, thanks toa smart database of the data typically generated for their type of business. They can calculate their carbon footprint by industry sector.
After selecting the sector for the carbon footprint assessment (manufacturing, construction, events, logistics, etc.), a list of initial questions organized into 7 categories allows youto enter all the dataquickly and efficiently.
These seven categories cover all regulatory emission categories in the GHG inventory:energy, other direct emissions excluding energy, assets, travel, input materials and services, as well as waste and products sold. Organizations will thus report on the fossil fuels and other fuels they use, as well as biomass.
Once the data has been entered, based on the emission factors used, the tool automatically allocates greenhouse gas emissions across the23 regulatory categories within the three emission scopes of the GHG Inventory. All emissions are thus accounted for in accordance with regulations.
The emissions identified and calculated in this way enable the platform to propose action plans to reduce them, with the collective goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Once emissions have been reduced, the platform allows users, as a final step, to offset their emissions through reforestation or renewable energy development projects. However, emissions offsetting should only be used as a last resort. Emissions reduction is the primary objective if we are to combat global warming.
The Decarbo’Solution® platform offers private and public organizations comprehensive,100% digital tools that are compliant with regulations and provide detailed guidance and documentation to help them identify,calculate, and reduce their carbon footprint. Users can launch their low-carbon strategy with the support of a carbon footprint expert.
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