Difference between revisions of "GHG Mitigation Goals"

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(Evaluating Performance)
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* Gross emissions include all relevant emissions within a GHG accounting boundary (or geographic boundary as a proxy) and exclude any GHG emissions reductions from carbon credits purchased or sold.
 
* Gross emissions include all relevant emissions within a GHG accounting boundary (or geographic boundary as a proxy) and exclude any GHG emissions reductions from carbon credits purchased or sold.
 
* Net emissions refer to gross emissions less all applicable GHG emissions reductions claimed from carbon credits purchased outside the GHG accounting boundary (or geographic boundary as a proxy), and adding GHG emissions from sold carbon credits resulting from projects within the GHG accounting boundary (or geographic boundary as a proxy).
 
* Net emissions refer to gross emissions less all applicable GHG emissions reductions claimed from carbon credits purchased outside the GHG accounting boundary (or geographic boundary as a proxy), and adding GHG emissions from sold carbon credits resulting from projects within the GHG accounting boundary (or geographic boundary as a proxy).
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Entities should update emissions reduction trajectories periodically, estimate target year gross emissions, and consider new strategies to reduce their gross emissions as much as possible.
 
Entities should update emissions reduction trajectories periodically, estimate target year gross emissions, and consider new strategies to reduce their gross emissions as much as possible.

Revision as of 13:01, 5 January 2022

Definition

GHG Mitigation Goals are the concrete targets set by entities in the context of contributing to Climate Change Mitigation.

Developing a GHG Inventory, setting goals, and tracking progress are part of an interconnected process. Setting reduction or “mitigation” goals can help entities focus efforts on key emission sources, identify innovative mitigation solutions, demonstrate leadership and reduce long-term costs.

Goal Types

The type of goal provides the basis against which emissions and emissions reductions are tracked and reported. Users with a multi-year goal shall report whether the goal is an average, annual, or cumulative multi-year goal. In general, there are four goal types:

  • Base year emissions goals
  • Fixed level goals
  • Base year intensity goals
  • Baseline scenario goals

All goal types, except for fixed level goals, require a base year GHG inventory and a GHG inventory in the target year for evaluation of results.

Base Year Emissions Goals

Base year emissions goals represent a reduction in emissions relative to an emissions level in a historical base year. They are framed in terms of a percent reduction of emissions compared to a base year emissions level, and therefore correspond to an reduction in Absolute Emissions.

Fixed Level Goals

Fixed level goals represent a reduction in emissions to an absolute emissions level in a target year. For example, a fixed level goal could be to achieve 200 Mt (million tonnes) CO2e by 2020. The most common type of fixed level goals are Carbon Neutrality goals, which are designed to reach zero net emissions by a certain date (though such goals often include the purchase and use of offset credits to compensate for remaining emissions after annual reductions).

Fixed level goals do not include a reference to an emissions level in a baseline scenario or historical base year.

Base Year Intensity Goals

Base year intensity goals represent a reduction in emissions intensity relative to an emissions intensity level in a historical base year (See GHG Emission Intensity Metric). Emissions intensity is emissions per unit of output.

Examples of units of output include GDP, population, and energy use. Intensity goals are framed in terms of a percent reduction of emissions intensity compared to a base year emissions intensity, and therefore correspond to an absolute reduction in emissions intensity (which may nevertheless allow for an increase in absolute emissions).

Baseline Scenario Goals

Baseline scenario goals represent a reduction in emissions relative to Baseline Emissions level. They are typically framed in terms of a percent reduction of emissions from the baseline scenario, rather than an absolute reduction in emissions.

A GHG Baseline Scenario is a set of reasonable assumptions and data that best describe events or conditions that are most likely to occur in the absence of activities taken to meet a mitigation goal (i.e. business-as-usual). To estimate the business-as-usual (BAU) baseline, additional historical data series may be used, including GDP, population, sectoral energy intensity, among others.

For an example of top-down sectoral scenario goal setting for financial institutions see the PACTA Methodology.

Evaluating Performance

To ensure transparency and meaningful and accurate reporting of progress made towards their goals, entities should report both net and gross emissions separately.

  • Gross emissions include all relevant emissions within a GHG accounting boundary (or geographic boundary as a proxy) and exclude any GHG emissions reductions from carbon credits purchased or sold.
  • Net emissions refer to gross emissions less all applicable GHG emissions reductions claimed from carbon credits purchased outside the GHG accounting boundary (or geographic boundary as a proxy), and adding GHG emissions from sold carbon credits resulting from projects within the GHG accounting boundary (or geographic boundary as a proxy).


Entities should update emissions reduction trajectories periodically, estimate target year gross emissions, and consider new strategies to reduce their gross emissions as much as possible.

References