LOW CARBON ECONOMY IS RISING!
Our priorities are shifting. The awareness is increasing across the technological advantages that the low carbon economy will bring. Countries and businesses have all realized that the current carbon economy will not be sustainable and the transformation to renewable resources should be integrated soon.
But, what exactly is low carbon economy and what are the negative effects of the current system? A low carbon economy is a system that aims to minimize its output of greenhouse gasses while functioning as a typical economic program. This structure has become the long-term goal of countries who are trying to reduce the effects of Global Warming. The move toward low-carbon economies began with the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, which called on nations to reduce their carbon emissions, and has continued with the Paris Agreement in 2015.
The implications of global warming starts with the Industrial Revolution in 1950’s which causes the high consumption of fossil fuels. Using fossil fuels for energy increases the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere which leads to warmer temperatures. This climate shift is a one way scenario withextreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas, and a range of other impacts.
HOW DO WE BUILD ECONOMIES WITH MUCH REDUCED CARBON EMISSIONS?
Change starts with awareness. We can reach the real outcomes by measuring the current impacts. Therefore it is crucial for companies to invest in finding their current emissions which is caused by their operations. It is also important to find which operations are the most energy consumers. In this context, companies should be following the below methodology;
• Measuring the carbon emissions align with ISO 14064 standards.
• Setting up the base year in order to follow up the emission performance.
• Prioritizing KPI’s in order to decrease the fossil fuel consumption.
• Reviewing if these targets are met on yearly basis.