The Importance of Carbon Reduction
Climate change is a natural and present danger to the planet. We all have a responsibility to help combat it, and our carbon emissions are a large part of that threat. Organizations are obligated to cut carbon emissions, and technologies are available to help reduce emissions. However, long-term targets must be established to reduce greenhouse gases in the long term. Read on to discover more about the importance of carbon reduction. Here are a few ways you can do so.
Climate change is a threat to all of us.
The effects of climate change are already causing massive suffering for millions of people. Long-term droughts in sub-Saharan Africa threaten food supplies, while devastating tropical storms wreak havoc in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The world’s ice sheets are also melting at an alarming rate, bringing dangerous consequences for people, plants, and wildlife. In addition to the destruction caused by rising sea levels, climate change could threaten coastal systems, low-lying areas, island nations, and many of the world’s largest cities.
We already know that higher temperatures mean longer warm seasons, shorter winters, and warmer summers. While we aren’t aware of its subtler effects, the rising temperature is making the climate more hospitable to mosquitoes, which may carry diseases like Ross River virus disease or Murray Valley encephalitis. While these changes in the weather pattern are already happening, scientists still believe we have plenty of time to do something about them.
A report from the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (USCCP) outlines the effects of climate change on people and nature. It explores how future impacts will play out at different levels of warming and the resulting risks. The report also suggests several steps that can help strengthen nature’s resilience and fight poverty and hunger while keeping the Earth where we can live. It’s a big step forward, and it’s time to act.
Increased air pollution has adverse effects on human health. High levels of pollutants released into the atmosphere through fossil fuels significantly cause climate change. The pollution caused by burning fossil fuels also reduces the ozone layer, protecting our skin from UV rays. Exposure to ozone can trigger asthma attacks. Bushfires also worsen air quality. They are expected to occur more frequently with climate change.
According to the World Bank Data Bank, many countries’ concerns about climate change have decreased significantly. China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has seen the highest decrease in climate change concerns since 2010. Meanwhile, the U.S. has experienced a modest increase in the number of people saying climate change is a threat to all of us. This decrease has come with a modest increase.
Organizations have a responsibility to reduce their carbon emissions.
A successful strategy begins with setting clear targets for emissions reduction. As supply chains can be very complex, organizations must determine which suppliers they want to target for removal and adjust them as needed. Typically, organizations use the average data method, which uses volume and quantity data to calculate emissions per unit of product or service. Other criteria might include the importance of a supplier to the organization, the categories that contribute most to supply chain emissions or a combination of these.
While many companies have set targets for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, they often fail to include emissions created during the entire life cycle of a product. For example, raw materials make emissions during the extraction, harvest, refining, use, and disposal of a product. These emissions cannot be reduced without addressing these other processes. As a result, organizations are responsible for reducing their carbon emissions and helping the world mitigate the risks associated with climate change.
Since anthropogenic climate change is becoming increasingly apparent, the question of responsibility has also come to the fore. At the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, countries adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The parties agreed that industrialized countries should take the lead on climate change because they were responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions. They should also assume greater responsibility for climate change due to their differentiated responsibilities and equity.
In addition to legislation, governments can compel companies to buy emission rights. The profits of these emissions rights can be used to support climate-vulnerable communities. The availability of low-carbon mass transportation must replace emission-heavy forms of travel. To make this happen, wealthy countries must do more to help developing countries, and the powerful industries must do more to support the poor. These policies will be an effective way to curb global warming.
Technologies are available to reduce emissions.
Many governments have set the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Currently, the U.S. emits 6 Gigatons of greenhouse gases each year, measured in CO2-equivalent, a unit that reflects the amount of each gas in the atmosphere. Developing and implementing technologies to reduce carbon emissions could reduce U.S. emissions by nearly a quarter over the next thirty years, significantly reducing global emissions.
Technology-policy measures influence innovation in different ways. They can be grouped into two broad categories: voluntary measures and mandatory requirements. Voluntary measures offer various incentives and impose restrictions on specified activities, facilities, and technologies. Governments can act through standards and regulations to promote innovation. Governments should consider these options as essential aspects of stimulating technological innovation. Listed below are some of the technologies available to reduce carbon emissions.
Hydrogen fuel cells. This fuel source produces energy by combining hydrogen with oxygen and emits water vapor. With the help of technological advances, hydrogen-based vehicles may soon become a popular choice for transportation. Some major companies are already experimenting with hydrogen vehicles. Industrial emissions account for about a fifth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and these include emissions from iron and steel, cement, and other products. However, industries can reduce emissions through recycling and collaboration. Various companies are setting emission goals and making changes to their industrial processes.
The most significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the developed world is driving to work. The adoption of technology to support remote working has been fast-paced. This technology has also been adopted to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on workers. However, remote working may only be effective in the summer, as buildings can be heated efficiently with many workers in the same building. Therefore, these technologies are becoming increasingly popular.
The goal of reducing atmospheric CO2 is a complex problem. Different technological designs are needed to address the challenge. Some examples of such technologies include artificial trees and wind turbines. These two technologies are familiar to us, but their process is similar. The innovation of these technologies began with sound observations and ideas. Then, it was a matter of making the concept work. The possibilities for carbon reduction are endless; this is where technology plays an essential role.
Long-term targets are needed.
The world needs long-term targets to reduce CO2 emissions. These are not the same as short-term targets, which means we’ll have to cut emissions more quickly in the future. The Paris Climate Accords outlined a period between 2060 and 2070 in which greenhouse gas emissions must fall to zero. Achieving these targets, however, will require much more work than simply cutting emissions. Despite these challenges, however, the world is moving toward these goals.
Setting long-term targets is not easy. In addition, there are several ways to measure progress. One proven method is establishing a steering committee that looks at the targets and evaluates gaps in progress. The target can also be incorporated into company policies, codes, and educational presentations. For example, the sustainability department should work closely with the production and energy management departments. HR and real estate departments should also be involved. The target needs to be reviewed regularly to reflect new developments. The SBTi requires companies to review their targets every five years, with updated requirements corresponding to the 1.5-degree ambition.
In the NDC process, the long-term target should be developed. The long-term target should be linked with the short-term targets, as the life span of infrastructure is long-term. For example, transport infrastructure and power plants will still operate in 2050. Thus, the long-term target should be linked with short-term and medium-term targets. As long as these are related, they should be considered part of a single ambition process.
Setting long-term carbon-reduction targets is critical in the global climate change effort. The process will have risks and opportunities, and executives should be careful to differentiate themselves from their competitors and create a competitive advantage by reducing carbon emissions. They should also be intentional in setting short-term targets like 2030 and 2025, as these will be crucial for mobilizing organizations to take action toward the goal.
To achieve these goals, annual CO2 emissions must be at least 15 gigatonnes lower in 2030 than current unconditional NDCs. For the 1.5degC purpose, annual emissions must fall by 32 gigatonnes. For the 2degC purpose, annual cuts must be seven and two percent, respectively. The 2030 emissions reduction targets require even greater levels of ambition. The timetable for these targets should be set even sooner.
