The carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs), which for example includes carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), generated in the production chain and in our human actions. With the carbon footprint we can analyze the impacts that each service or product we consume has on the atmosphere. The carbon footprint is based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology that serves to quantify emissions from the extraction, use and end of life of a product, process or service.
To calculate how much carbon a person releases into the atmosphere, there are online calculators that do the math. Company calculations require more complex accounts, which is why there are also companies specialised in carrying out these more detailed accounts. Firstly, it is necessary to obtain data on the company's emissions sources to assign values to these sources and quantify the company's CO2 emissions. Calculations are based on the GHG protocol.
Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth's atmosphere that can trap heat and contribute to the greenhouse effect, which is a natural process that helps regulate the planet's temperature. While the greenhouse effect is essential for maintaining a habitable climate on Earth, an excess of certain greenhouse gases can lead to an enhanced greenhouse effect, resulting in global warming and climate change.
Carbon neutral means that GHG emissions are balanced with GHG removals, so that the net GHG emission is zero. This is generally achieved by offsetting GHG emissions that cannot be avoided by purchasing carbon credits, or by undertaking carbon offsetting projects such as planting trees or investing in renewable energy.
Net zero is a more ambitious goal than carbon neutrality and involves removing an equivalent amount of GHG emissions from the atmosphere that were generated. In other words, in addition to reducing emissions, it is also necessary to implement measures that remove carbon from the atmosphere, such as reforestation, regenerative agriculture, carbon capture and storage, among other solutions.
"Carbon neutral" is the balance between GHG emissions and removals, while "net zero" implies net-zero emissions and removing additional amounts of GHG from the atmosphere to compensate for past emissions. Both terms are important for the fight against climate change and for achieving the global emissions reduction targets needed to limit global warming and its impacts.
"Carbon negative" means that more GHGs are removed from the atmosphere than are emitted. This is achieved by reducing GHG emissions and removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. This means that there is a further reduction in GHG emissions beyond equilibrium, which leads to a net reduction in the total amount of GHG in the atmosphere.
Carbon credits are the carbon trading currency and for every tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) that is absorbed or stops being emitted, a credit is generated. CO2e is a unit that converts the global warming potential of other greenhouse gases, such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into a function of CO2. In this way, it is possible to make comparisons of the potential climate impact of different gases based on CO2.
Descarbonize was created to calculate, compensate and mainly educate companies to reduce their carbon emissions by making them more sustainable in their daily lives. Our objective is to help companies have a more assertive view of their emissions, enabling them to control their scopes (1, 2 and 3) so that they reduce their footprints and, therefore, their compensation. The majority of our sources of compensation come from renewable energy with a strong socio-environmental commitment. We invest in several local projects bringing social insertion, improving living conditions and also environmental conditions for the entire population. Our certificates are provided by ENGIE and are highly reliable, as you can be sure where they are from and which project is attributed to each certificate issued.
ENGIE is a French business group, the second largest in the world in the energy sector, according to Fortune magazine. It operates in the generation and distribution of electricity, natural gas and renewable energy. The company provides electrical power generation solutions, engineering and construction services, and energy services to commercial and residential customers. The company was founded in Brazil in 2008, but has its roots in the history of the French energy industry, going back more than a century, to the construction of the Suez Canal.
ENGIE Brasil, which is the Brazilian subsidiary of ENGIE and the country's leading renewable energy company, operates in the generation, commercialization and transmission of electrical energy, gas transportation and energy solutions. With its own installed capacity of around 10 GW in 68 plants, which represents around 6% of national capacity, the company has 100% of its installed capacity coming from renewable sources and with low Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. such as hydroelectric, wind, solar and biomass plants.
ENGIE is working to reduce its carbon footprint by investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The company has several renewable energy generation projects in operation in the country, including wind, solar and hydroelectric plants. All ENGIE renewable energy projects invest in socio-environmental projects and contribute to the sustainable development of various communities. Furthermore, ENGIE Brasil is investing in green hydrogen projects and energy storage solutions.
Renewable energy and forestry carbon credits are different mechanisms, which encourage the reduction of GHG emissions in different ways: the first encourages the generation of clean energy and the second encourages the preservation or reforestation of natural areas. We offer carbon credits from renewable energy, as energy from fossil sources is one of the largest emitters in the world and we believe that investments in renewable energy will play a large part in reducing global CO2 emissions.
The GHG protocol is a set of guidelines and standards for accounting and managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from companies, governments and organisations. It is one of the main instruments used to measure and manage the GHG emissions of organisations around the world.
The GHG protocol was developed by a partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and is widely used as a guide for preparing GHG emissions inventories by companies and governments.
The GHG Protocol provides detailed guidance on how to measure GHG emissions in each of the three scopes, as well as a framework for managing GHG emissions. It also includes a set of standards for verifying GHG emissions inventories and carbon offset projects. The protocol includes three scopes of GHG emissions: Scope 1, which refers to the organization's direct emissions; Scope 2, which refers to the organization's indirect emissions due to the consumption of electricity, heat and steam; and Scope 3, which refers to the organization's indirect emissions from other sources, such as transportation and business travel, supply chain and final waste disposal.
The protocol is widely recognized as a global standard for measuring and managing GHG emissions, and is used by companies, governments and organizations around the world. It is an important tool to help organizations understand their GHG emissions and identify opportunities to reduce them, thus contributing to the fight against climate change.
The concept of Scopes is used to classify an organization's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to sources and emission categories. This classification is important so that the organization can identify its main sources of emissions and establish appropriate reduction targets. Scopes are defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol), a guide developed by the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Initiative (GHG Protocol Initiative), which is widely used for managing GHG emissions. There are three main Scopes: 1,2,3
Refers to direct GHG emissions from sources that belong to the organisation. Examples include emissions from production processes, emissions from owned vehicles or heating emissions from owned buildings. It also includes sources that, although not owned by the company, are controlled by it.
Refers to indirect GHG emissions from the generation of electrical energy purchased by the organization. In other words, emissions occur outside the organisation, but are the result of its demand for electrical energy. This includes electricity purchased from power utilities or independent generators.
Refers to all other indirect GHG emissions associated with the organization's activities, but which occur outside its sphere of control. This includes emissions from the production and transportation of raw materials, goods and services purchased by the organization, emissions related to business travel, emissions related to waste generated, and emissions related to products sold or services provided. Scope 3 is the broadest and can include a wide variety of indirect emission sources, which are often difficult to quantify. However, it is important for organisations to consider Scope 3 emissions when setting their emissions reduction targets, as these emissions typically represent the majority of total emissions associated with the organisation's activities.
The carbon credit is a unit of measurement that represents the reduction of one ton of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), or the removal of one ton of GHG from the atmosphere. It is a way to quantify and trade GHG reduction or removal in a carbon market.
Carbon credit is generated from projects that aim to reduce or remove GHG emissions, such as renewable energy projects, energy efficiency, reforestation and industrial process improvements. These projects are evaluated by independent and accredited organizations that issue certificates for reducing GHG emissions. For every ton not emitted, a carbon credit is generated.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that established commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. The protocol introduced different mechanisms for GHG reduction, as well as an emissions trading system and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It was adopted in 1997 during the United Nations Conference on Climate Change held in Kyoto, Japan.
The CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) allows projects to reduce GHG emissions in developing countries to be certified and generate carbon credits, which can be sold to industrialized countries that have emissions reduction targets to meet. Thus, the CDM allows developing countries to participate in the global carbon market and receive financing for projects to reduce GHG emissions. CDM projects can cover several areas, such as the adoption of cleaner technologies in industry, improving energy efficiency in buildings and implementing renewable energy systems. For a CDM project to be approved, it must meet strict criteria regarding emissions reduction, sustainable development and additionality (i.e., the emissions reduction must be additional to what would occur without the project).
The main objective of the Kyoto Protocol was to stabilize the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system. To this end, the industrialized countries that adhered to the agreement committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5.2% in relation to 1990 levels, in the period between 2008 and 2012. Although many (such as Brazil) have adhered to the Kyoto Protocol, some important countries, such as the United States, have not ratified the agreement. Furthermore, the Kyoto Protocol expired in 2020 and was replaced by the Paris Agreement in 2015, which sets new emissions reduction targets for signatory countries.
Carbon credits are a mechanism used to encourage the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote the transition to a low-carbon economy. Voluntary market carbon credits can be generated by renewable energy projects and forest preservation projects, among others. The main difference between renewable energy and forestry carbon credits is the type of project that generates the credits and the type of emissions reduction that is promoted.
Renewable energy carbon credits are generated by projects that produce energy from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, among others. These projects help reduce GHG emissions, as they replace energy generation with fossil sources, which are more polluting. Renewable energy carbon credits are calculated based on the amount of energy produced and the amount of emissions avoided.
Forest carbon credits are generated by projects that promote the preservation or reforestation of natural areas, such as forests. These projects help to reduce GHG emissions, as forests are important carbon sinks, that is, they absorb large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. Forest carbon credits are calculated based on the amount of carbon that is stored or would no longer be emitted due to the preservation or reforestation of the area. Although forestry credits can have a positive impact on biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration, they do not directly encourage the production of clean, renewable energy.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are produced by various human activities, such as the use of energy in industries, transport, construction, agriculture and others. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all sectors of society to work to reduce their GHG emissions and seek solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, it is common for some companies and individuals to generate a greater amount of emissions than others. In these cases, emissions offsetting can be a solution. Emissions offsetting consists of financing projects that reduce GHG emissions in other parts of the world, to offset emissions that cannot be avoided.
Companies that generate large amounts of GHG emissions, such as industries, airlines and transport companies, are often encouraged or obliged by public policies to offset their carbon emissions by investing in emission reduction projects, such as forest preservation, generation of renewable energy, the promotion of energy efficiency, among others. However, emissions offsetting should not be seen as a unique solution to the problem of climate change. Reducing emissions in your own activities is elementary and must be considered. It is important that everyone, individuals and companies, assume their responsibility in reducing their GHG emissions and work to mitigate the effects of climate change.
There are several actions you can take to make your business more sustainable. Some suggestions include: 1. Assess the environmental impact of your business, 2. Reduce energy consumption, 3. Use renewable energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil energy sources, 4. Reduce water consumption, 5. Manage correctly dispose of waste, 6. Promote sustainable mobility, 7. Adopt sustainable purchasing practices. For more suggestions, you can get in touch or create an account and calculate your company's footprint to obtain an action plan to reduce emissions.
The trading of carbon credits is done between countries in the so-called carbon market, and characterises the sale of credits between a country that holds them, having reduced its carbon dioxide emissions, and a country that needs to reduce its emissions, but did not achieve its goals. This market exists all over the world, and is regulated in each country by legislation, which defines the particularities of trading. In Brazil, the market is regulated through Decree 5,882 of 2006. Commercialisation is carried out in accordance with the rules of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which can be unilateral, bilateral or multilateral, and allows cooperation between industrialised countries and developing countries.
The carbon credits market is a mechanism that allows organizations to offset their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by purchasing carbon credits generated by projects that promote the reduction or removal of these emissions. There are two types of carbon credit markets: the regulated market and the voluntary market.
The regulated carbon credits market is established by governments or regulatory bodies, which create GHG emissions reduction targets for companies and industries in their territories. Companies that fail to meet their emissions reduction targets are forced to purchase carbon credits to offset their excess emissions. This market is regulated and priced by rules and standards established by governments or regulatory bodies and is generally restricted to certain sectors or geographic regions.
The voluntary carbon credit market is established by companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals who wish to offset their GHG emissions voluntarily. In this market, companies and individuals buy carbon credits generated by projects that promote the reduction or removal of GHG emissions, without the regulatory obligation to do so. This market is not regulated by government rules, but is generally governed by certification standards established by non-governmental organizations, such as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) or the Gold Standard. Although licenses are negotiated bilaterally or on markets and exchanges, there are differences between credits: whether they reduce, avoid or remove emissions; from which activities or region they originate; what co-benefits they create; between others. However, regulated and voluntary markets can connect, as some regulated markets allow a small portion of targets to be met through voluntary carbon credits.
The carbon market began with the creation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) during the COP 92 in Rio de Janeiro, with the aim of stabilising the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere . It emerged as a tool to face the challenge of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at a global level. The Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement on climate change adopted in 1997, was an important milestone in the development of the carbon market.
Since then, the carbon market has grown and evolved, with various types of carbon credits being created, such as renewable energy and reforestation credits, and new carbon markets emerging around the world. Today, the carbon market is an important tool for tackling climate change, helping companies and governments to reduce their GHG emissions more economically and efficiently.
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