Residual greenhouse gas emissions
Residual emissions are those that cannot be reduced through changes to your organization. Think of it like what gets left over when you empty a container – some material remains on the container walls. Residual emissions are the ones that remain after all your emission reductions. After reducing what you can, you will then offset the residual ones. Your organization will always have to offset your residual emissions. In your first few years, this will be achieved through emission reductions and in later years through greenhouse gas emission removal enhancements.
For example, an EV gets you zero tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions. There might be greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity grid. There will be greenhouse gas emissions in the life-cycle of the manufacturing and eventual disposal. Those can contribute to your residual greenhouse gas emissions. Few organizations can get to zero GHG emissions on their own. You might choose a hybrid vehicle that will get you halfway there. This choice will come with much higher residual emissions. Using biofuels can shave 10 or 20 per cent off your greenhouse gas emissions. Hybrids are a little cheaper today. In the long-term plug-in EVs will be cheaper. They will be better for the planet and people. There will be life-cycle GHG emissions from manufacturing and shipping and disposal. The carbon market price will increase per tonne of CO2e. The lower your residual emissions are the better. You can start by asking your supply chain for their greenhouse gas emissions and what they will do to reduce them and when. Your customers will ask you for yours too. This will all be part of everyday business soon.
Look at your organization and consider what changes you can make to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. How low can you get your residual emissions? Get them as low as possible for the planet and people.
Join in the #GSSChallenge. This week’s theme is “What is one of your sustainability goals?”
