KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITYSUSTAINABILITY SEMINARSUSTAINABILITY SEMINAR
January 6, 2010
WHY IS CARBON FOOTPRINTING IMPORTANT?WHY IS CARBON FOOTPRINTING IMPORTANT?
It’s the Critical First StepIn Developing Climate Protection PlansIn Developing Climate Protection Plans
or Strategies
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• Develop Baseline Inventory of GHG Emissions [ Carbon Footprint ][ Carbon Footprint ]
• Determine GHG Reduction Goals to be Achieved• Identify Actions to Reduce GHG Emissions• Identify Actions to Reduce GHG Emissions
• Implement GHG Reduction Measures• Monitor and Assess Progress• Monitor and Assess Progress
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Carbon Footprinting IdentifiesWhat Activities are Generating GHG EmissionsWhat Activities are Generating GHG Emissions
& How Much
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Baseline Inventory for GHG yEmissions from Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Source p
100,000
120,000
t
from City of Kansas City Government Activities
Total Emissions = 319,795 metric tons of CO2
2000 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sourcefrom City of Kansas City Government Activities
40 000
60,000
80,000
c To
ns C
O2
Equi
vale
nt
2equivalent
Diesel3.4%
CNG0.4%
Waste0.2%
Gasoline11.6%
-
20,000
40,000
Met
ric
Buildings Vehicle Fleet Employee Streetlights Water/Sewage Waste
Co-generation3.0%
Natural Gas6.9%
Total Emissions = 319,795 metric tons of CO equivalent
Commute
2000 2005
Electricity74.5%
of CO2 equivalent
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Baseline Inventory for yCommunity-Wide GHG Emissions
2000 Community Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Source
Cogeneration0.6%
Waste1.4%
Diesel6 1%
2000 Community Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector
for Kansas City Missouri
Natural Gas14.6%
Electricity
6.1%
3,500,000
4,000,000
for Kansas City, Missouri Electricity46.7%
Gasoline
2000 Total Emissions = 9,569,764 metric tons of eCO2Total Energy Emissions (2000) =
5,922,457 metric tons of eCO2
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
Tons
CO
2 Equ
ival
ent Gasoline
30.6%
-
500,000
1,000,000Met
ric
ResidentialEnergy
CommercialEnergy
IndustrialEnergy
Transportation Waste
Total Emissions (2000) = 9,569,764 metric tons of eCO2
Energy Energy Energy
2000 20056
Carbon Footprinting Can Quantifyg yExpected GHG Emissions from Various Strategies
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Carbon Footprinting Helps to Identify & Prioritize Actions to Focus GHG Reduction Efforts to AchieveActions to Focus GHG Reduction Efforts to Achieve
Specific Goals:• Lowest Cost Reductions• Lowest Cost Reductions
• Highest GHG Reduction Impact• Cost Effectiveness (i e GHG Reductions per• Cost-Effectiveness (i.e. GHG Reductions per
Unit Cost)
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Carbon Footprinting Can Also Identify Impacts of Actions Already Initiated for Reasons Other thanActions Already Initiated for Reasons Other than
Reduction of GHG Emissions
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What If It’s a Hoax?
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GHG Reduction Strategies Can Have Many Other Impacts:
• Cost Savings• Improved Air Quality• Improved Air Quality• Improved Housing
• Better Access to Public TransportationBetter Access to Public Transportation• Reduced Dependence on Imported Petroleum
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Carbon Footprinting Enables the Measurement of Progress, Monitoring Performance, and Making
Adjustments if Anticipated GHG Reduction Goals are not Being Achieved
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Carbon Footprinting Will Help You to Discover Connections Between Activities Previously
Thought to be Unrelated( e.g. Water and Energy )
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So to Accommodate Those Who BelieveSo, to Accommodate Those Who Believe Anthropogenic Climate Change is a Big Hoax,
Our New Motto isOur New Motto is
“Creating a Better World for No Reason at All ”Creating a Better World, for No Reason at All.
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