Capital 3 Flashcards
What is the share of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in global GHG emissions, and what are its primary sources?
CO₂: 75% of global GHG emissions.
Sources:
- Burning fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal).
- Burning solid waste.
- Burning trees and wood products.
What is methane’s share in GHG emissions, its potency, and primary sources?
CH₄: 17% of global GHG emissions.
Potency: 80x more potent than CO₂ over 20 years (shorter-lived).
Sources:
- Agriculture (e.g., cows burping, ~40%).
- Fossil fuel production and use (~40%).
- Waste decay (e.g., landfills, ~20%).
What is nitrous oxide’s contribution to GHG emissions, its potency, and primary sources?
N₂O: 6% of global GHG emissions.
Potency: ~270x more potent than CO₂, lasts ~100 years in the atmosphere.
Sources:
- Fertilizer use in agriculture (~75% of N₂O emissions in the US).
- Other industrial or waste processes.
What does “Carbon Neutral” mean in the context of climate commitments?
- Climater impact
- Mitigation approach
- Activity scope
- Emissions timeframe
-
Climate impact:
Focuses on carbon only. -
Mititgation appraoch:
Includes all mitigation efforts to balance emissions. - Activity Scope:
Applies to the total footprint of emissions and Scope 1,2 or 3 - Emissions timeframe:
Relevant to annual emissions over a short or long-term target. - Example company: Delta.
How is “Climate Neutral” defined, and how does it differ from “Carbon Neutral”?
- Climater impact
- Mitigation approach
- Activity scope
- Emissions timeframe
-
Climate impact:
Includes Kyoto gases and other impacts, not just carbon -
Mitigation approach:
Covers all mitigations like offsets and reductions -
Activity scope:
Applies to the total footprint of emissions and Scope 1,2 or 3 -
Emissions timeframe:
Relevant to annual emissions over a short or long-term target.
What does “Absolute Zero” entail as a climate goal?
-
Climate impact:
Includes Kyoto gases and other impacts, not just carbon -
Mitigation approach:
Focuses only on abatement (direct reduction of emissions, no offsets) -
Activity scope:
Applies to the total footprint of emissions and Scope 1,2 or 3 -
Emissions timeframe:
Relevant to annual emissions over a short or long-term target.
What is “Net Zero,” and how is it achieved?
-
Climate impact:
Includes Kyoto gases and other impacts, not just carbon -
Mitigation approach:
Combines abatement and removal strategies -
Activity scope:
Aims to neutralize emissions for the total footprint and can apply to scope 1,2 and 3 emissions -
Emissions timeframe:
Relevant to annual emissions over a short or long-term target.
What does “Climate Positive” imply for a company’s climate strategy?
-
Climate impact:
Includes Kyoto gases and other impacts, not just carbon -
Mitigation approach:
Combines abatement and removal strategies -
Activity scope:
Goes beyond neutralization, removing more emissions than produced and can apply to scope 1,2 or 3 -
Emissions timeframe:
Relevant to annual emissions over a short or long-term target.
What does “Carbon Negative” mean?
-
Climate impact:
Includes Kyoto gases and other impacts, not just carbon -
Mitigation approach:
Combines abatement and removal strategies -
Activity scope:
Aims to neutralize emissions for the total footprint and can apply to scope 1,2 and 3 emissions -
Emissions timeframe:
Historic emissions
What are the four leading sustainabile insitutions that collaborate together for SBTi?
- World Resources Institute
- WWF
- United Nations: Global Compact
- CDP
When are targets considered “science-based?
- if they are in line with what the latest climate science says is necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement
- to limit global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C
How is Net Zero emmissions different from Carbon Neutral?
SBTi defintions?
Net Zero (SBTi Definition):
Focuses on addressing residual emissions after decarbonization using neutralization levers only
Carbon Neutral:
Addresses CO₂ footprint using a mix of compensation and neutralization strategies.
What is the SBTi definition for Climate neutral? (Matrix]
Addressing all climate impact through a mix of compensation and neutralizations
What are the two axes of distinction of the different climate terms?
1.Scope of Impact: Covers either
- CO₂ only,
- all GHGs, or
- all climate forcers.
2.Mitigation Approach: Involves
- abatement,
- compensation, and
- neutralization strategies.
What terms have as mitigation approach: Abatement ?
- Zero Carbon: Focuses on CO₂ only and abatement
- Zero Emissions: Includes all GHGs. by Abatement
