ClimateTrade and Spain’s CSCAE launch a carbon footprint calculator for the construction sector
Spain’s 2030 Observatory of the Consejo Superior de los Colegios de Arquitectos de España (CSCAE), a business association for architects and contractors, and ClimateTrade, have developed a carbon footprint calculator for companies in the construction sector. This is the first step in helping the construction industry achieve carbon neutrality. The application is the result of a partnership agreement signed between the CSCAE and ClimateTrade to jointly develop digital initiatives to fight climate change and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the 2030 Agenda. The calculator is free to use and already available for the almost 200 members of the CSCAE’s 2030 Observatory, allowing them to calculate carbon footprint offset it through environmental projects in Spain and around the world. Francisco Benedito, CEO and Co-Founder of ClimateTrade, comments: “This partnership is set to allow direct contribution to the SDGs via dozens of projects around the world which, through our marketplace, will provide full transparency on how funds are allocated. At the same time, it is important to offer SMEs and independent contractors this free carbon footprint calculator to help them realize their own environmental impact and quantify their footprint. Through simple annual company data, the calculator provides a summary of CO2 emissions, which can then be offset on the platform, making carbon neutrality easier.” Ángela Baldellou, Director of the 2030 Observatory 2030 of CSCAE, adds: “With this new initiative, we can support our members and partners in their journey towards a more sustainable business model. We are delighted to have the participation of ClimateTrade, which has made the process more digital and more simple, providing companies with the environmental projects that will allow them to move forward with their social responsibility strategy towards a fairer, more sustainable world.” The calculator is very easy to use: based on the standards of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the tool prompts the user to enter energy consumption and transportation data, and offers a summary and analysis of CO2 equivalent emissions across a full year. Once calculated, emissions can be offset on the platform, where the user can select the most appropriate mitigation projects and get access to their transaction history in their private account. In Spain, buildings consume about 30% of the country’s total energy, and are responsible for 36% of national GHG emissions. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that direct CO2 emissions from buildings need to be reduced by half, and indirect emissions from the construction sector cut by 60% by 2030 to meet 2050 net zero targets. According to WorldGBC, the construction and demolition phases, as well as the material supply chain, represent between 10 and 20% of a building’s lifecycle carbon footprint. Making a lifecycle assessment of carbon emissions offers new perspectives for their decarbonisation. However, public policies that take these processes into account are also necessary to completely decarbonise buildings in the coming years. To find out more about ClimateTrade’s sector-specific carbon footprint calculators, read our case studies or contact us.
How to calculate the carbon footprint of your company?
With ClimateTrade, organizations can easily calculate their carbon footprint. Faced with the heated discussion about the climate crisis and the urgency of taking effective actions to reduce the consequences of global warming, many companies are beginning to work on their ESG (Environmental, Social and Government) objectives. Among which is the “calculation of the carbon footprint”, which allows them to visualize a clear panorama of the impacts caused to the environment resulting from their business models. Calculate carbon footprint In a net zero world, every company will be required to calculate and offset its carbon footprint via different CO2 emissions offsetting projects. In many countries, large companies in polluting sectors are already asked to do so by law, and by the end of this decade, this requirement will be extended to many more countries, sectors, and types of companies. In other words, now is the time to prepare for this obligation. Do you need help to calculate the carbon footprint of your company? Fill in the form and a ClimateTrade expert will contact you. What is the carbon footprint? The carbon footprint is the sum of all the greenhouse gases a person, company or even country releases into the atmosphere, expressed in CO2 equivalent. These emissions are responsible for global warming, and as such, they need to be addressed in the fight against climate change. This is why many governments are putting a limit on the amount of emissions companies can produce, which is often combined with a tax on carbon. Many countries and companies have pledged to be net zero by 2050, which means that all their carbon emissions will be offset, and none will enter the atmosphere and destabilize the climate. Calculating the carbon footprint of a company means assessing its impact on the climate. It is a necessary step in combating climate change at company level. Methodology to calculate CO2 emissions Whatever your sector is, it is crucial to follow standard methodology to calculate your carbon footprint. This will ensure you are aligned with industry best practices, and make it easier to report and offset your emissions. Greenhouse Gas Protocol The most widely used methodology to calculate carbon footprint, whether manually or through a carbon footprint calculator, is that of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol). The first edition of this standard was published in 2001 after a decade of international cooperation. In 2016, 92% of Fortune 500 companies reported using this standard for carbon emissions calculation. The GHG Protocol offers several relevant methodologies: The Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard is its generic guidance for companies and other organizations preparing a corporate-level GHG emissions inventory; the Corporate Value Chain Standard focuses on scope 3 calculation and reporting; and the Product Life Cycle Standard can be used to understand the full life cycle emissions of a product and focus efforts on the greatest GHG reduction opportunities. Emissions classification to calculate carbon footprint With this protocol, emissions can be classified into three areas: Scope One: Direct GHG Emissions Scope 1 emissions are those generated by a company’s own operations. For instance, for oil and gas companies, scope 1 represents a very large share of the carbon footprint: their core activities of drilling, extracting and refining petrol and natural gas release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. On the other hand, service-oriented companies such as banks and financial institutions tend to have small amounts of scope 1 emissions, since they work in offices and don’t use polluting processes to make their products. To calculate your scope 1 emissions, think about what you and your employees do on a daily basis. Where do you work (office, factory, field, etc.)? What do you do? How polluting are your daily activities? Scope Two: Indirect GHG emissions associated with electricity These are indirect GHG emissions generated by electricity, process heat or cold, or steam used in processes, as well as transportation. They can begin to be counted from the invoices of the energy supply companies with the breakdown of the kilowatt-hours, therms or cubic meters that they supply. All sectors require electricity to operate, so all companies need to calculate scope 2 emissions. Start with your power supply: how much of it comes from renewable sources, and how much from fossil fuels? How much power do you use for your operations on a yearly basis? This will help you assess how much of your carbon footprint comes from electricity. The same exercise applies to heating or even cooking: companies often use natural gas for these activities, so it is important to calculate the emissions related to them. Then, look at transportation: does your company operate a fleet? Do your vehicles have combustion engines or are they electric? What kind of distance do they drive every week, month or year? This information will allow you to calculate the emissions related to the transportation fuel you use for your operations. Scope Three: Other indirect emissions Scope 3 emissions can be considered “out of your control”: they include the emissions generated by your providers and by your clients in the lifecycle of your product or service. For instance, going back to oil and gas companies, while the extraction and refining of the raw material belongs to scope 1, the combustion of these products in everyday activities such as driving or cooking are part of their scope 3. This is why the general carbon footprint calculation methodology includes scope 3: companies have to make changes and incentivize decarbonization throughout their supply chains. What to include in the Scope 3 carbon footprint of an organization? In particular, it is recommended to include: emissions from the means of transport used by workers between their residence to their workplace emissions from business trips by executives or middle managers, especially flights, trips by private or rented car, hotel stays, boat or ferry trips emissions from outsourced computing services, such as cloud services the emissions of the logistics companies collecting or delivering the products It is worth noting that Scope Three
How bad is climate change now?
The relationship between COVID-19 and climate change has complex implications that go far beyond logical reasoning. In fact, regardless of the sharp decrease in global emissions due to the confinement of the world’s population, it is a major mistake to claim that global warming has been halted. Large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have been accumulated in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution of the mid-18th century. So, How has this pandemic affected the fight against climate change? Obviously, there has been a remarked reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, but this low emission scenario seems to be only a one-off. Climate change remains one of the greatest challenges we are facing as humanity and we will have to keep dealing with it in the future. Pollution may grow after the coronavirus According to Lauri Myllyvirta, an analyst at the Helsinki Clean Air and Energy Research Centre, contamination may be triggered by the coronavirus. The economic downturn and containment measures due to the coronavirus could lead to CO2 emissions to levels not seen since World War II. “This already happened after the financial crisis of 2009,” said the analyst. The attempt to increase production in order to meet their targets will lead to a considerable increase in coal burning, and a return to normal could involve that emissions reach new historic highs. Due to fear and as a preventive measure, public transport will take a back seat, generating an increase in the use of private vehicles for moving around in the cities. In addition, as the global economy is suffering, many people, companies and countries will put the fight against climate change and sustainability goals on hold to make ends meet. There is a high risk that, in the face of the need for recovery, we will lead environmental policies into oblivion, failing to meet all the objectives set by governments and major organisations against climate change. If we want to draw some kind of learning from the COVID-19 in relation to the fight against climate change, that is if we unite as an international community, we can stop any threat, that a world with fewer emissions is possible, that we must not delay the ecological transition and, above all, that we need to take ambitious climate action on mitigation, adaptation and green finance.
Aigües de Barcelona on its way to carbon neutrality
With the support of ClimateTrade and its blockchain technology, Aigües de Barcelona has started managing its carbon footprint of the value chain. The Project coordinated by Aigües de Barcelona intends to reach out and impact the area of its operation, the city of Barcelona. The organization in charge of the capital’s water cycle has already involved a relevant group of its suppliers within its Agenda 2030 initiative. This project is named Blockvaluechain since it provides a space in which knowledge and tools are shared within the organizations named. The initiative promotes the digital traceability of the carbon footprint among the supply chain structure of its members. Therefore, companies that provide products and services will have the tools to calculate, reduce and offset carbon emissions. For Aigües de Barcelona’s mission of moving towards climate neutrality by reducing emissions on its whole value chain, it’s key to engage and to have an active participation of its suppliers. The project Blockvaluechain counts with the collaboration of the Technology Center Cetaqua and the climate-related partner ClimateTrade. The company has developed a pioneering digital tool for carbon offsetting suited to companies and consumers that want to take a step forward in the fight against climate change. Written by Francisco Martín, ClimateTrade’s Head of Engineering and Key Accounts Manager.
Top 3 myths about blockchain
Learn about the most common myths about blockchain technology. Myth #1 Blockchain = Cryptocurrencies The first myth is that Blockchain = Cryptocurrencies. This statement is incorrect, since Blockchain has many more applications apart from cryptocurrencies, such as tokenization or the registration of documentary evidence. Besides, there are some cryptocurrencies that use DLT technologies other than Blockchain. At ClimateTrade, each carbon credit of the projects published on the platform are tokenize and register, and the modifications that occur on them are registered. Myth #2 Blockchain for everything The second myth is that Blockchain can be applied to absolutely everything. This is something that is often read in the media and among many communities. However, to take full advantage of Blockchain technology and to provide a differential value regarding traditional database technologies, transparency and immutability needs are key points to consider, as not all applications have those needs. At ClimateTrade, Blockchain technology is used to guarantee the traceability and transparency of all operations on the platform. Myth #3 fast and anonymous The third myth is that Blockchain is fast and anonymous. The speed of a Blockchain network depends on the implementation. The capacity of newer networks like Algorand is notably superior compared to older networks like Bitcoin or Ethereum. On the other hand, all the operations carried out in the majority of Blockchains are traceable and identifiable to the different “wallets” that although they are totally anonymous at the start, as operations are carried out, a profile can be created regarding that account; therefore, to achieve anonymity, it is essential to be very careful with how these tools are used. Want to offset your carbon footprint? ClimateTrade is an expert in blockchain and has a team capable of working with the latest technologies. To learn more about blockchain technolgy, click here.
How does Blockchain actually work?
This post will cover how blockchain technology works, the advantages it presents, as well as its disadvantages. It is easy for newcomers to mix up cryptocurrencies and blockchain. Although the first blockchain (Bitcoin) is a cryptocurrency, it does not necessarily mean all blockchains are (or will be) necessarily used as payment networks. Blockchain technology has unique properties without which we would not be able to guarantee such a high level of transparency, decentralization and immutability. If you do not understand yet some of the concepts do not worry, we will explain them to you step by step. The following concepts, constitute the foundation of blockchain technology and we will go over them without getting too technical on the implementation details: Distributed ledgers Consensus mechanisms Mining Public and private blockchains Blockchain platforms Distributed ledgers What is a ledger? Today, vast amounts of information are controlled and managed by institutions that we trust to act honestly. Blockchain technology enables a shift from today’s centralized repositories of information to more decentralized robust fault tolerant networks. Using blockchain technology, it is possible to imagine a future where we do not rely on centralized organizations to manage our data but we, the users, have greater control of our digital lives. So how do blockchains enable this? It starts with simple accounting. Ledgers are data sources that track accounts and balances of assets, they are fundamental to accounting and tracking value. Today most ledgers are maintained in databases run by central authorities such as banks, credit card companies or governments. Record-keeping by central authority is beneficial for several reasons: A central authority can maintain data integrity by restricting access to the ledger to authorised users. The data location is known and accessible to the data curators this allows for fast retrieval and regulating access to the data. Updates to a database are known as “transactions”. The following are key properties for a database transaction : Transactions need to be atomic (where all updates are applied to the ledger or none of them are). Transactions need to be durable, meaning they persist in the system and there is no chance of the change being reverted. Transactions need to be consistent. Ledger data must be modified in a reliable permitted way. They also need to be isolated. Transactions must be isolated one from another. Recently, distributed ledger technology has gained popularity. Distributed ledgers do not rely on a central authority to maintain data. Maintaining agreements among the shareholders of the ledger is a difficult problem. Data integrity can be maintained using public/private key cryptography which can verify who initiates transactions and that they are authorized to do so. Transactions in a distributed ledger must have the same properties as a centralized ledger, they must be atomic, durable and consistent. Accessing the latest data often takes longer in a distributed ledger system than a centralized one, because it takes time for the participants to agree on the ledger’s state. Therefore the latest transactions are not immediately available to every node (participant in the network). A ledger is distributed when it has been securely replicated across geographic locations. Some features of DLT include: Consensus formation Peer-to-peer protocols Cryptographic infrastructure Blockchain technology is a version of distributed ledger technology. It implements these features through a specific data structure called a “blockchain” and consensus mechanisms such as proof of work, proof of stake, delegated proof of stake, proof of authority, etc. To know about ‘Why does ClimateTrade use blockchain technology to offset carbon emissions?’ click here.