Dokumentácia LCA slúži na systematické posúdenie environmentálneho dopadu produktu alebo služby počas celého jeho životného cyklu, od ťažby surovín až po konečnú likvidáciu. Táto štruktúra môže slúžiť ako zjednodušený vzor, ​​ktorý pomôže pri zostavovaní dokumentácie LCA podľa štandardných krokov a požiadaviek medzinárodných noriem, ako je ISO 14040 a ISO 14044 a aby zodpovedala metodike ILCD:

Názov projektu: Hodnotenie životného cyklu stavebného materiálu XYZ

Spoločnosť: Príkladná stavebná spoločnosť, a.s.

Dátum: Január 2024

Vypracoval: Ing. Anna Príkladová, environmentálny manažér

1. Definition of goal and scope

Cieľ LCA: Toto hodnotenie životného cyklu (LCA) má za cieľ zmerať environmentálny dopad stavebného materiálu XYZ počas celého jeho životného cyklu. Hlavným cieľom LCA štúdie je identifikácia horúcich miest v životnom cykle materiálu XYZ z pohľadu emisií skleníkových plynov, spotreby energie a surovín. Táto štúdia patrí do Situácie B definovanej v dokumente „ILCD Handbook – General guide for Life Cycle Assessment – Detailed guidance“, keďže jej cieľom je poskytnúť informácie pre interný proces rozhodovania v spoločnosti o optimalizácii environmentálneho profilu materiálu XYZ. Cieľovou skupinou LCA štúdie sú manažéri spoločnosti zodpovední za vývoj a výrobu stavebných materiálov.

Rozsah LCA: LCA sa vzťahuje na celý životný cyklus stavebného materiálu XYZ, od získavania surovín, cez výrobu, prepravu, použitie v stavebných projektoch, až po koncovú likvidáciu. Funkčná jednotka pre toto hodnotenie je 1 tona stavebného materiálu XYZ. Zber údajov pre LCA štúdiu prebiehal od 1. januára 2023 do 31. decembra 2023.

Systémové hranice: Analýza zahŕňa celý životný cyklus produktu vrátane:

• extraction of raw materials,
• výroby a spracovania materiálov,
• prepravy,
• fázy používania,
• disposal or recycling at the end of life.

Grafické znázornenie systémových hraníc:

• [Vložte sem grafické znázornenie systémových hraníc]

2. Inventory analysis (LCI)

Zber údajov: Zozbierané údaje zahŕňajú všetky vstupy (materiály, energia, voda) a výstupy (emisie do ovzdušia, vody a pôdy, produkcia odpadu) pre každú fázu životného cyklu.

Zdroje údajov a ich kvalita:

• Fáza ťažby surovín: Údaje o spotrebe energie a emisiách boli získané priamo od dodávateľa surovín – spoločnosti „Ťažobný podnik, s.r.o.“. Údaje sú technologicky reprezentatívne pre rok 2022 a geograficky špecifické pre región ťažby v Slovenskej republike.
• Fáza výroby: Údaje o spotrebe energie, materiálov, emisiách a odpadoch pochádzajú z interného monitorovacieho systému spoločnosti „Príkladná stavebná spoločnosť, a.s.“ za rok 2023. Údaje sú technologicky reprezentatívne pre výrobný proces materiálu XYZ v danom roku.
• Fáza prepravy: Údaje o spotrebe energie a emisiách z prepravy boli vypočítané na základe vzdialenosti prepravy a typu dopravných prostriedkov s použitím údajov z databázy Ecoinvent v3.8 [odkaz na databázu]. Údaje sú priemernými hodnotami pre daný typ prepravy v Európe.
• Fáza používania: Vzhľadom na komplexnosť a variabilitu fázy používania boli pre túto fázu použité priemerné údaje z databázy Ecoinvent v3.8 [odkaz na databázu] pre stavebné materiály s podobnými vlastnosťami ako materiál XYZ.
• Fáza likvidácie: Pre fázu likvidácie boli použité priemerné údaje z databázy Ecoinvent v3.8 [odkaz na databázu] pre zmesový stavebný odpad.

Kategória údajov:

• Energetické zdroje: Spotreba elektriny a zemného plynu počas výroby a prepravy.
• Materiály: Množstvá vstupných surovín, ako sú vápenec, cement, voda a prísady, ako aj pomocné materiály použité vo fáze výroby a prepravy.
• Emisie a odpady: Emisie CO₂, NOx, SO₂, PM10, ako aj odpadový materiál vznikajúci pri výrobe, preprave a likvidácii.

Tabuľka:

3. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA)

Dopadové kategórie: V LCA štúdii boli zvolené nasledujúce dopadové kategórie, ktoré sú relevantné z pohľadu environmentálneho profilu stavebného materiálu XYZ:

• Zmena klímy: Táto kategória bola zvolená, pretože emisie skleníkových plynov z výroby stavebných materiálov predstavujú významný príspevok ku globálnemu otepľovaniu.
• Acidifikácia: Táto kategória bola zvolená kvôli potenciálnemu vplyvu emisií SO₂ a NOx z výroby a prepravy materiálu na acidifikáciu pôdy a vody.
• Eutrofizácia: Táto kategória bola zvolená, pretože emisie dusíka z výroby materiálu môžu prispievať k eutrofizácii vodných ekosystémov.
• Spotreba neobnoviteľných zdrojov: Táto kategória bola zvolená, pretože výroba stavebných materiálov je náročná na spotrebu energie a surovín, ktoré sú často neobnoviteľné.

Charakterizačné faktory: Pre každú dopadovú kategóriu boli použité charakterizačné faktory z metodiky ReCiPe 2008 (H, Europe ReCiPe H) [odkaz na dokument ILCD] odporúčanej v „ILCD Handbook – Recommendations for Life Cycle Impact Assessment in the European context“, aby sa zabezpečila porovnateľnosť s inými LCA štúdiami.

Výsledky LCIA:

• [Vložte sem tabuľku alebo graf s kvantifikovanými výsledkami LCIA pre každú dopadovú kategóriu a fázu životného cyklu]
• [Vložte sem porovnanie výsledkov s referenčnými hodnotami pre stavebné materiály, ak sú k dispozícii]

Výpočty: Kompletná metodika výpočtov dopadov je zdokumentovaná v prílohe „Výpočty environmentálnych dopadov“.

4. Interpretation of results

Kľúčové zistenia: Hodnotenie životného cyklu materiálu XYZ ukázalo, že fáza výroby má najväčší vplyv na životné prostredie, čo sa týka emisií CO₂, spotreby energie a produkcie odpadu.

• Fáza výroby predstavuje 60% celkových emisií CO₂.
• Ťažba surovín je zodpovedná za 20% celkovej spotreby energie.
• Fáza prepravy má najmenší vplyv na celkové emisie, avšak prispieva k lokálnemu znečisteniu ovzdušia.

Odporúčania na zlepšenie: Na základe zistení LCA štúdie navrhujeme nasledujúce opatrenia na zníženie environmentálnej záťaže materiálu XYZ:

• Optimalizácia spotreby energie:
  • Implementácia systému riadenia energie (ISO 50001) vo výrobnom závode. Očakávané zníženie spotreby energie o 10%.
  • Modernizácia výrobnej technológie s cieľom zvýšiť energetickú účinnosť. Očakávané zníženie spotreby energie o 5%.
• Alternatívne materiály:
  • Preskúmanie možnosti využitia recyklovaných materiálov (napr. recyklovaného cementu) pri výrobe materiálu XYZ. Potenciálne zníženie emisií CO₂ a spotreby energie o 5-10%.
• Efektívnejšia preprava:
  • Optimalizácia logistiky prepravy s cieľom minimalizovať prepravné vzdialenosti. Očakávané zníženie emisií CO₂ z prepravy o 5%.
  • Využitie ekologickejších dopravných prostriedkov (napr. železničná preprava).

Implementáciou navrhnutých opatrení by sa mohla celková environmentálna záťaž materiálu XYZ znížiť o 20-25%.

5. Záver

Hodnotenie životného cyklu odhalilo oblasti, kde je možné výrazne znížiť environmentálnu záťaž materiálu XYZ. Implementácia navrhnutých opatrení môže znížiť emisie CO₂ a spotrebu energie, čím by sa materiál stal udržateľnejším.

6. Prílohy

• Podrobné inventarizačné údaje: podrobnosti o každom materiáli a energetickom zdroji.
• Výpočty environmentálnych dopadov: Kompletné výpočty a metodológia použitá pri posúdení dopadu.
• Overenie nezávislou stranou: Certifikát overenia vydaný nezávislou inštitúciou „Slovenská akadémia vied“ overovateľom „Prof. Ing. Ján Novák, PhD.“, ktorý spĺňa kvalifikačné kritériá uvedené v dokumente „ILCD Handbook – Reviewer qualification for Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data sets“.

7. Zoznam použitej literatúry a webových stránok

• [Odkaz na dokument „ILCD Handbook – General guide for Life Cycle Assessment – Detailed guidance“]
• [Odkaz na dokument „ILCD Handbook – Recommendations for Life Cycle Impact Assessment in the European context“]
• [Odkaz na dokument „ILCD Handbook – Specific guide for Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data sets“]
• [Odkaz na dokument „ILCD Handbook – Reviewer qualification for Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data sets“]
• [Odkaz na databázu Ecoinvent v3.8]

Poznámka: Grafické znázornenie systémových hraníc a tabuľky/grafy s výsledkami LCIA je potrebné doplniť podľa špecifík LCA štúdie.

Spring

Hodnotenie životného cyklu (Life Cycle Assessment – LCA) je medzinárodne štandardizovaná metodika na posudzovanie environmentálnych dopadov produktov, služieb a procesov. Uplatňuje sa na základe viacerých noriem a legislatívnych rámcov, ktoré zabezpečujú konzistentnosť a transparentnosť v tomto procese. Nižšie uvádzam prehľad najdôležitejších noriem a legislatívy.

Medzinárodné normy

1. ISO 14040 a ISO 14044
   • ISO 14040: Stanovuje princípy a rámce pre vykonávanie LCA, vrátane definovania cieľov, inventarizácie, hodnotenia dopadov a interpretácie výsledkov.
   • ISO 14044: Špecifikuje podrobné požiadavky a usmernenia pre implementáciu LCA, vrátane reportovania a kritických revízií. Tieto normy tvoria základ pre všetky ďalšie metodiky.
2. ISO 14067
   Táto norma sa zameriava na kvantifikáciu a reportovanie uhlíkovej stopy produktov na základe LCA.
3. ISO 14064
   Rámec pre kvantifikáciu a reportovanie emisií skleníkových plynov na úrovni organizácií. Zahŕňa priame (Scope 1) aj nepriame (Scope 2 a 3) emisie.

Európske rámce

1. ILCD Handbook (International Reference Life Cycle Data System)
   Príručka poskytuje detailné usmernenia na vykonávanie LCA v európskom kontexte. Slúži ako základ pre ekologické označovanie, zelené verejné obstarávanie a ďalšie politiky na podporu udržateľnej produkcie a spotreby.
2. Environmental Footprint Methods
   Európska komisia vyvinula metódy na hodnotenie environmentálnych dopadov:
   • PEF (Product Environmental Footprint): Zameraná na produkty.
   • OEF (Organizational Environmental Footprint): Zameraná na organizácie.
     Tieto metódy harmonizujú hodnotenie dopadov v EÚ a zabezpečujú konzistentnosť.

Špecifické metodiky a rámce

1. GHG Protocol
   Najpoužívanejší štandard pre reportovanie emisií skleníkových plynov na organizačnej a produktovej úrovni. Zahŕňa špecifické rámce pre Scope 1, 2 a 3.
2. Product Category Rules (PCRs)
   Pravidlá špecifické pre jednotlivé produktové kategórie, ktoré definujú podrobnosti hodnotenia LCA pre špecifické produkty alebo sektory【64】.
3. Circular Economy a Cradle-to-Cradle
   Tieto prístupy dopĺňajú metodológiu LCA tým, že zdôrazňujú opätovné využívanie zdrojov a uzavretie materiálových tokov.

Legislatívne použitie

LCA sa využíva v mnohých oblastiach vrátane ekologického dizajnu (Ecodesign), uhlíkového označovania, a zeleného verejného obstarávania. Napríklad EÚ podporuje používanie LCA v rámci akčného plánu pre obehové hospodárstvo a politiky udržateľnej spotreby a produkcie.

Podrobnejšie informácie a prístup k príslušným normám nájdete na stránkach ISO (www.iso.org) a Európskej platforme pre LCA  Spring

The United Nations (UN) is proposing a cryptocurrency mining tax of $0.045 for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity used for mining. This proposal aims to mitigate the environmental impact of the crypto industry and to finance climate projects.

Energy intensity of cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrency mining, especially Bitcoin, is among the biggest consumers of energy in the digital world. In 2023, the annual energy consumption for Bitcoin mining reached approx 120 terawatt hours (TWh), which is comparable to the annual consumption of countries such as Norway or Argentina.

• Comparison: A single Bitcoin transaction uses approximately 1,400 kWh of energy, which is the amount an average household would use in 47 days.
• Energy sources: Much of the energy used for mining comes from non-renewable sources, especially in regions with cheap electricity such as China, Russia or Kazakhstan.

Objectives of the proposed tax

The UN proposal pursues two main objectives:

1. Reduction of environmental impact: Incentivize cryptocurrency miners to switch to renewable energy sources or less energy intensive technologies such as "Proof of Stake".
2. Financing climate initiatives: Revenue from the tax could finance projects to promote renewable energy, protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change.

Challenges and concerns

1. Global implementation: Cryptocurrency mining is decentralized, which makes it difficult to coordinate taxation between individual countries.
2. Reaction of miners: Many could move their operations to countries with little or no environmental regulation, increasing their carbon footprint.
3. Innovations in the sector: The industry is already working to reduce energy consumption. Ethereum has reduced its energy consumption by more than 99 % by switching to "Proof of Stake".

Impact on industry and the environment

If the tax were to be successfully introduced:

• Motivation for sustainability: Miners could start using renewable energy sources more.
• Climate benefit: According to the UN, the revenues could finance projects that will reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by up to several million tons of CO2 per year.
• Technological shift: The tax could accelerate the development of more energy-efficient blockchain solutions.

The UN proposal emphasizes the need to address environmental issues associated with the growing crypto industry. Although implementing a global cryptocurrency mining tax will be difficult, its potential benefits for climate and technological progress could be significant. Spring

After two weeks of intense negotiations, delegates at COP29, formally the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), agreed to provide these funds annually, with an overall climate financing goal of "at least $1.3 trillion" by in 2035".

Countries also agreed on the rules of a UN-backed global carbon market. This market will facilitate the trading of carbon credits and encourage countries to reduce emissions and invest in climate-friendly projects. (More on news.un.org)

Microsoft has introduced the Microsoft Sustainability Academy , a free webinar series designed to support professionals in integrating sustainability into business strategies, improving ESG data management and achieving net-zero goals.

The program targets sustainability leaders, IT and business managers, ESG professionals, and data and AI enthusiasts looking for practical tools and real-world examples to effectively address sustainability challenges. (More on esgnews.com)

A study from the Ecologic Institute analyzes the possibilities of introducing a price system for methane emissions from the energy sector in the EU from 2030. Two main approaches are considered: the expansion of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the introduction of a tradable emission standard (EPS) with a bonus-malus system. The analysis takes into account the link with the new methane regulation in the EU and assesses the political, technical and legal feasibility of both approaches, while also addressing issues of monitoring, measurement accuracy and compatibility with WTO rules. The study recommends expanding the ETS as the most promising option.

The pricing of methane emissions in the EU energy sector presents several challenges that need to be carefully considered.

• Ensuring reliable and accurate monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV): Methane leaks, as well as incomplete methane combustion and venting, cannot be quantified with the same level of reliability and precision as CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion. CO2 emissions are easily calculated as a function of fossil fuels consumed and their carbon content. On the contrary, methane leaks often need to be estimated based on non-continuous measurements or calculation methods with varying degrees of accuracy. While the implementation of the EU Methane Regulation and technological developments will substantially increase the accuracy and quantity of available data on methane emissions from the energy sector, the MRV of methane emissions is likely to continue to be less accurate than the GHG emission standards currently covered by the EU ETS. As an accurate MRV is crucial for the integrity of the EU ETS system as a whole, it may be challenging to maintain the credibility of the ETS price and the functioning of the emission allowance market while integrating methane emissions on par with existing emission sources. This can be seen as a threat to the integrity and functionality of the tool.
• Determination of the limit for the uncertain total volume of emissions: There is currently considerable uncertainty about the total volume of methane emissions from the energy sector. At least for some major sources of methane emissions and countries, data from Member States' greenhouse gas inventories are not reliable.
• Solving stochastic events with extremely high emissions: Individual events with exceptionally high emissions can cause significant methane emissions. These events are usually associated with accidents, sudden consequences of insufficient maintenance and abnormal process conditions. Acts of war or terrorism can also cause them. Therefore, events with extremely high emissions are impossible to predict and difficult to measure. As discussed in previous research, such stochastic fluctuations can lead to complications within a decreasing overall limit.
• International coverage and compatibility with WTO rules: As the EU imports most of the fossil fuels it consumes, mitigating methane emissions from imported fuels is more important than the domestic effects of methane pricing. There are solutions for covering imports with the price of emissions, either by expanding the CBAM mechanism or by including traded volumes in the scope of the system of bonuses and malus within the EPS. In both cases, however, it is necessary to demonstrate political feasibility and acceptability on the part of the main trading partners. Although there are reasons to be optimistic about the compatibility of CBAM with WTO rules, only a WTO decision can provide certainty.
• Political acceptability and cost sharing: The introduction of methane emissions pricing may lead to an increase in energy prices for consumers, which could provoke a public backlash. At the same time, it is necessary to consider a fair distribution of costs between producers and consumers.

In addition to these challenges, it is also necessary to consider the administrative and technical aspects of the implementation of the methane emissions pricing system, as well as its impact on the competitiveness of European businesses. Spring

"The environment and the fight against climate change is a horizontal priority in the selection of projects. Priority will be given to projects focused on the development of competences in various green sectors, including those in the contribution of education and culture to the Sustainable Development Goals, the development of green sector strategies and skills methodologies and future-oriented curricula, as well as initiatives that support the planned approaches of participating organizations regarding environmental sustainability. (More on education-for-climate.ec.europa.eu)

There are several ways we can reduce our digital carbon footprint in our daily lives. The sources offer us the following tips:

Changing your streaming and downloading habits:

• Avoid streaming, autoplay, and playing videos when you're not in the room. This is an easy way to save energy, similar to turning off the lights when you leave a room.
• Download content instead of streaming. If you download your favorite series from MAX or Netflix, you'll only use your device's power to watch it, not the power needed to run the streaming service. A faster internet connection when downloading episodes or series increases convenience, saves time and provides a better overall viewing experience by reducing buffering and ensuring high-quality content.

Editing online shopping:

• Close browser tabs and do not leave items in online carts that you are not interested in. Every opened card and item in the cart consumes energy on the servers.

Effective search:

• Delete cookies and search history regularly. This will prevent your online behavior from being tracked and reduce power consumption.
• Reuse searches. The browser thus loads the results from the cache and does not use energy for a new search.

Device settings:

• Adjust power consumption settings. Reduce brightness, set a shorter sleep time, and other settings that affect power consumption.
• Decrease the screen brightness. This will not only reduce power consumption but also extend the battery life of your device.
• Turn off devices when not in use. Sleep mode still consumes power, so it is better to turn off the devices completely.

Electronic waste:

• Recycle, upcycle and responsibly dispose of old devices. Don't throw old phones and computers in the trash, but hand them in for recycling.
• Do not upgrade devices until absolutely necessary. Waiting to upgrade reduces the demand for consumer electronics and has a positive impact on your digital carbon footprint.

Email:

• Change your email settings. Remove images from signature and turn off automatic download of attachments and images.
• Write emails thoughtfully. Delete old emails, unsubscribe from unnecessary lists and minimize the use of images and animations.

Other tips:

• Limit your screen time and spend more time outside.
• Use ecological light bulbs.
• Clean up your cloud storage. Delete unnecessary files and consider moving archived files to an external hard drive.
• Find a smart app to help you monitor your carbon footprint.

Sources also emphasize the importance of switching to sustainable and renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, heat pumps and hybrid solar and wind energy systems.

In addition to individual steps is important require companies to have carbon-neutral supply chains. Companies like Apple are already working to achieve this goal by 2030.

Remember that even small changes in everyday life can have a big impact on reducing our digital carbon footprint and protecting the environment. Spring

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of its long-term goals. The NDCs embody each country's efforts to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Paris Agreement (Article 4, paragraph 2) requires each party to prepare, communicate and maintain progressive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that it intends to achieve. The Parties shall pursue domestic mitigation measures to achieve the objectives of such contributions.

what does that mean

The Paris Agreement requires each country to outline and communicate their post-2020 climate action, known as their NDCs.

Together, these climate actions determine whether the world meets the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement to reach a global peak in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as soon as possible and then make rapid reductions in line with the best available science to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions from sources and sinks of GHGs in the second half of this century. It is understood that peaking emissions will take longer for developing country Parties and that emission reductions are undertaken on the basis of equity and in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication efforts, which are critical development priorities for many developing countries.

The Paris Agreement recognizes that the long-term goals specified in its Articles 2 and 4.1 will be achieved over time, and therefore builds on a gradual increase in aggregate and individual ambitions.

NDCs are submitted every five years to the UNFCCC Secretariat. In order to strengthen ambitions over time, the Paris Agreement stipulates that subsequent NDCs will represent progress on the previous NDC and reflect its highest possible ambitions.

Sport and climate change are closely linked. On the one hand, sport is an important part of culture and social life, on the other hand, its activity has a significant impact on the environment. The sports industry, which is worth an estimated $600 billion, produces approximately 350 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) annually. For comparison, the average car produces 4.6 tons of CO2 per year and the whole of France 315 million tons. These figures point to the huge carbon footprint of sport and highlight the need to find sustainable solutions.

Impacts of sport on the climate

The main sources of emissions associated with sports include:

1. Sports events and infrastructure: The construction and operation of stadiums and halls, lighting, heating and cooling are among the biggest contributors. For example, the Winter Olympics often require artificial snowmaking, which consumes enormous amounts of water and energy.

2. Travel and logistics: The transport of players, fans and materials creates a huge amount of emissions. Air transport is one of the most harmful sources of CO2 emissions.

3. Consumption and waste: A large amount of plastic waste and disposable materials are generated during sports events. In addition, clothing and equipment made from unsustainable materials leave an ecological footprint.

Sport as a victim of climate change

Climate change threatens the very future of sport. Rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions affect outdoor sports such as football and track and field and reduce the snow conditions needed for winter sports. These challenges force the sports industry to look for solutions not only to reduce the impact, but also to adapt to new conditions.

Possibilities of mitigating the impact of sport on the climate

There are several strategies that can help the sports industry become more sustainable:

1. Green stadiums and infrastructure: Innovations in the field of construction enable the construction of energy-efficient stadiums. For example, stadiums with solar panels, rainwater collection or the use of recycled materials significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

2. Travel and mobility: Organizers can motivate fans and teams to use public transport or shared mobility. Hybrid and electric vehicles can replace traditional means of transport. Some sports clubs have already implemented policies to limit short-haul air travel.

3. Sustainable products and waste: Sports brands can make clothing and equipment from recycled or biodegradable materials. Event organizers should implement waste sorting systems and minimize the use of single-use plastics.

4. Education and engagement: Sport has a huge power to influence people. Clubs and athletes can use their reach to raise awareness of climate change and inspire fans to take green action.

5. Certification and impact measurement: The implementation of certifications, such as carbon neutrality, and transparent environmental impact reporting motivate further steps. Many events, such as the Roland Garros tennis tournament, have already started measuring and offsetting their emissions.

The future of sport and climate

The transition to a sustainable sports industry is essential. A combination of innovation, cooperation between organizers, clubs and fans, as well as a consistent policy of sustainability can bring significant change. Sport can become not only less harmful to the climate, but also a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Reducing emissions by tens of millions of tons per year is achievable if the sports industry takes up the challenge and becomes a leader in sustainability. Climate protection can thus be a common goal that unites athletes, fans and businesses. Spring

The key freshwater inputs that drive the Atlantic meridional circulation (AMOC) slowdown and their climate responses remain inconclusive. Using a state-of-the-art global climate model, we conduct freshwater experiments to re-examine the sensitivity of the AMOC and its climate impacts. The Irminger Basin appears to be the most effective area for additional freshwater inflows, causing the greatest weakening of the AMOC. While global temperature and precipitation responses are relatively homogeneous, subcontinental responses—especially in the northern midlatitudes—are heterogeneous. At high latitudes, temperature changes determine the response of sea ice to freshwater fluxes and associated ice-albedo feedbacks. In tropical and extratropical regions, temperature dynamics are shaped by atmospheric circulation and oceanic heat transfer. Precipitation shows seasonal and regional variability due to altered surface turbulent heat flux and the southward movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The extensive heterogeneity in climate extremes underscores the need to monitor areas of freshwater release associated with AMOC deceleration. These findings have major implications for understanding paleoclimate and the future impacts of the AMOC. (Qiyun Ma,  Xiaoxu Shi, Monica Ionita, more at science.org)

The United Kingdom, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates have announced NDC targets to 2035 that set a high bar for ambition. GZERO countries Bhutan, Madagascar, Panama and Suriname have already achieved net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Canada, Chile, European Union, Georgia, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland aim to submit additional NDCs which are:

• In line with IPCC emission trajectories and global assessments, they require deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C;
• Absolute economy-wide emission reduction targets covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and categories; a
• Aligned with a sharp and credible reduction in emissions towards their net zero targets by mid-century, consistent with a linear or steeper trajectory.

Together, we recognize the urgent need for action to address the climate crisis and the critical role of major emitters in putting the world on the 1.5°C path. We are committed to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and keeping 1.5°C within reach, and we recognize the significant economic imperatives and opportunities for strong climate action. (More on climate.ec.europa.eu)

Record high emissions of greenhouse gases from power plants, cars and boilers burning fossil fuels mean our planet is warming faster than at any time in half a billion years. This temperature spike appears to be accelerating further in 2023 and 2024, threatening sudden changes in the Earth system – such as the collapse of the Amazon rainforest – that could change our world. (By Jack Marley, The Conversation, more at phys.org)

Mining activities significantly contribute to the loss of forest cover (FCL), consequently to changing global carbon dynamics and worsening climate change. This study aims to estimate the contribution of mining-induced FCL to carbon sequestration loss (CSL) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from 2000 to 2019 using proxy datasets. For the FCL analysis, global FCL data with a spatial resolution of 30 m were developed by Hansen et al. (2013), was employed in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform. In addition, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-based Net Primary Productivity (NPP) data and biomass datasets developed by Zhang and Liang (2020) were used to assess CSL and CO₂ emissions. The results of the study showed approximately 16,785.90 km worldwide ² FCL due to mining activities, resulting in an estimated CSL of ∼36,363.17 Gg CO₂/yr and CO₂ emissions of ∼490,525.30 Gg CO₂. Indonesia emerged as the largest contributor to mining-induced FCL, accounting for 3,622.78 km ² of deforestation or 21.58 % of the global total. Brazil and Canada followed with significant deforestation and CO₂ emissions. The findings revealed that mining activities are a major driver of deforestation, especially in resource-rich regions, leading to substantial environmental degradation. (Avinash Kumar Ranjan, Amit Kumar Gorai, more at sciencedirect.com)

Welcome to the NOAA Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases group information website! The central site for global greenhouse gas monitoring and is in charge of operating the global air sampling network that continues to monitor the air we breathe.

20 November 424.12 ppm

Safe concentration: 350 ppm

ppm – the number of particles of carbon dioxide per million particles of air.

More on gml.noaa.gov

A document entitled "Communication from the Commission on the interpretation of some provisions of Directive 2013/34/EU (Accounting Directive), Directive 2006/43/EC (Audit Directive), Regulation (EU) No. 537/2014 (Audit Regulation), Directive 2004/109/EC (Transparency Directive), Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772 (the first set of European Sustainability Reporting Standards, "the first ESRS Delegated Act") and Regulation ( EU) 2019/2088 (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, "SFDR") as regards sustainability reporting' provides clarification on some of the legal provisions relating to sustainability reporting.

The main objective of the document is to facilitate the implementation of the new sustainability reporting requirements introduced by the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) into existing legislation. The document contains:

• Glossary of relevant terms: Defines key terms related to sustainability reporting, such as "accounting guidance", "ESRS", "sustainability report" and "sustainability statement".
• Overview of CSRD requirements: Briefly describes the new sustainability reporting requirements introduced by the CSRD Directive.
• Detailed guidance on specific aspects of sustainability reporting: The document is structured into Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sections, which cover various topics:
  • Scope and dates of application: Who is required to report on sustainability and since when.
  • Exemption rules: When is a business exempt from sustainability reporting?
  • ESRS: Which ESRS standards should businesses use and how should they report on their value chain.
  • Disclosure of information pursuant to Article 8 of the Taxonomy Regulation: How to include the disclosure of information under Article 8 of the Taxonomy Regulation in the Sustainability Statement.
  • Language and format requirements: In what language and format should the sustainability report be prepared and published.
  • Supervision: Which authorities are responsible for overseeing compliance with sustainability reporting requirements.
• Verification requirements for sustainability reports: Who can verify sustainability reports and what are the verification conditions.
• Requirements for businesses from third countries: How sustainability reporting requirements apply to businesses from third countries.
• SFDR: How intangible asset information and SFDR indicators relate to sustainability reporting.

It is important to note that this document serves only as an aid in the implementation of the relevant legislation. It does not introduce any new rights or obligations and is not a binding interpretation of EU law. Spring 

The Council today gave the final green light to a regulation establishing the first EU-level certification framework for sustainable carbon removal, agriculture and carbon sequestration in products. This voluntary framework will facilitate and support high-quality decarbonisation and land abatement activities in the EU as a complement to sustainable emissions reductions.

Carbon removal and emission reduction in soil

The regulation will be the first step towards introducing a comprehensive certification framework for carbon removal and reduction of emissions in soil to EU legislation. It will help the EU reach its goal of climate neutrality by 2050.

The Regulation applies to the following activities within the EU:

• permanent carbon removal , which captures and stores atmospheric or biogenic carbon for several centuries (e.g. bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, direct air capture with storage)
• carbon sequestration activities that capture and store carbon in products with a long life of at least 35 years (such as wood-based construction products)
• carbon farming activities , which increase the sequestration and storage of carbon in forests and soil or which reduce greenhouse gas emissions from soil, carried out over a period of at least five years (e.g. reforestation, restoration of peatlands or wetlands, better use of fertilizers)

(More on consilium.europa.eu)

Certification standards play a key role in ensuring the credibility and quality of carbon offset projects. The most prominent of these standards include Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard and The Climate Action Reserve. These certification tools ensure that projects that produce carbon credits actually benefit the environment and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS)

Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), founded by Verra, is one of the most widely used global standards for the certification of voluntary carbon projects. This standard was established in 2005 and since then has significantly contributed to the development of the voluntary market for carbon credits.

Main characteristics:

– Standardized methodologies: VCS provides a set of methodologies that allow accurate measurement and monitoring of emission reductions. Different types of projects, such as renewable energy sources, forestry and agriculture, can be certified according to these methodologies.

– Third-party verification: Projects must be verified by independent certification institutions, which ensures transparency and trustworthiness.

– Flexibility: VCS supports a wide range of projects, including in developing areas, helping to stimulate sustainable development.

– Emphasis on innovation and development: VCS constantly updates and improves its methodologies based on the latest scientific knowledge and technological innovations.

Gold Standard

The Gold Standard, introduced in 2003, was originally developed for projects under the Kyoto Protocol, but gradually expanded to include voluntary projects. This standard is known for its emphasis on the highest environmental ambitions and broad social added value.

Main characteristics:

– Focus on human and environmental benefits: The Gold Standard requires that projects not only reduce emissions but also contribute to socio-economic benefits for local communities. These projects must demonstrate positive effects on health, poverty, energy and biodiversity protection.

– Rigorous evaluation and participation: Projects must undergo a thorough evaluation and often involve the participation of local communities in planning and implementation. This ensures that projects are not only technically efficient but also socially just.

– Approach based on sustainable development: The Gold Standard is closely linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whereby projects must demonstrate a contribution to these goals.

The Climate Action Reserve

The Climate Action Reserve is a North American standard that focuses primarily on the regional specifics of carbon projects on the continent. It was originally created in California and is closely related to California's emissions trading system.

Main characteristics:

– Accurate and consistent protocols: This standard offers detailed protocols for various types of projects, including energy, industrial and agricultural initiatives, that are tailored for North American conditions.

– Transparency orientation: Climate Action Reserve emphasizes a high level of transparency in all phases of the project, from planning to monitoring and reporting.

– Emphasis on effectiveness: Projects under this standard must demonstrate not only environmental benefits, but also effectiveness in implementation and risk management.

All three standards – Verra's Verified Carbon Standard, Gold Standard and The Climate Action Reserve – play a vital role in strengthening confidence in carbon offset schemes. They are essential to guarantee that carbon credits actually contribute to reducing emissions and promote sustainable development. Spring

A carbon offset credit is a certified unit that corresponds to one metric ton of CO2 or its equivalent of another greenhouse gas. These credits are created through projects that either reduce emissions or capture them. Examples include renewable energy projects such as solar and wind power, afforestation and conservation of existing forests, energy efficiency improvements, and landfill methane capture projects.

Organizations that cannot directly reduce their emissions to the required level can purchase these credits to offset their emissions. In this way, they support projects that contribute to the overall reduction of global emissions.

"No institution, no company will be carbon neutral without the use of carbon offsets. There is literally no way to reduce emissions to zero.” 

Carbon credit market mechanism

The market for carbon offset credits is divided into two main segments: the regulated and the voluntary market.

1. Regulated market: This market is defined by international and national regulations, such as the Emissions Trading System under the Kyoto Protocol or the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Organizations in these jurisdictions are required to meet emission limits and must purchase carbon credits if they exceed them.

2. Voluntary market: This market allows individuals and organizations to offset their emissions voluntarily, outside of legislative or regulatory frameworks. Many companies use this market as part of their corporate social responsibility strategy to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

Certification and credibility

The credibility of carbon offset credits is essential. Therefore, there are several certification programs and standards that ensure that emission reductions are real, measurable and additional (ie, emission reductions would not have occurred without the project). Some of the most well-known certification standards include Verra's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard and The Climate Action Reserve.

Criticism and challenges

Although carbon offset credits are a valuable tool for mitigating climate change, they also face some criticism and challenges. Critics say they allow polluters to "buy off" their carbon footprint without actually reducing emissions. Another concern is that not all emission reduction projects have the same impact, and some might even proceed without support from offset credits.

There is also the question of how effectively and transparently these projects are evaluated and monitored. However, without offset credits, many sectors would face a huge challenge in achieving net zero emissions. This is especially true for industries where the technologies required for full decarbonization are not yet available or economically viable.

Despite these challenges, carbon offset credits remain an important tool on the path to a carbon-neutral future. To achieve optimal efficiency, they require thorough evaluation and continuous improvement of standards and certification processes, as well as innovation in emission reduction technologies. Spring