Likewise, you have begun to study 'carbon neutrality' as a goal for CU and other organizations/campuses. Globally, many companies and organizations have announced aspirations and plans to become climate neutral, carbon neutral, or some variation of those themes.
So, it's fair to ask if what defines these terms--and are these goals even possible. One skeptical article linked below presents some doubts. It is also linked to a very skeptical Wall Street Journal article.
http://logisticsviewpoints.com/2009/01/07/defining-carbon-neutrality/
Look over these links--and Google around a little bit on the subject if you have time. Then blog on these questions
- 1) Is carbon neutrality possible? and
- 2) Do colleges/universities have unique limitations and/or responsibilities with respect to carbon neutrality?
This blog will close on Thursday 1/22.
Have a great weekend. Enjoy the Martin Luther King holiday. And I will see you on Tuesday, Inauguration Day (we will be out of class before the parade ends and President Obama is sworn in. There will be TVs set up for viewing in the UMC.)
Cheers,
Dave
First, I believe carbon neutrality is a long-term feasible goal. Clearly, issues around inventory accounting exist and tend to skew data in favor of less carbon counting by the organization undertaking a review of its GHG related emissions. This also brings up the importance of including other non CO2 based GHG emissions with their respective weighted global warming impacts in a comprehensive analysis. This inclusion is critical in moving towards "climate neutrality" and beyond "carbon neutrality." The possibility of achieving either of these goals will require maximizing energy efficiency first, followed by progressive implementation of renewable usage in energy production. Decreases in individual wasteful, consumptive behavior must also occur including a movement towards new more urbanized centers where transportation to and from work, school, and grocery is minimized. In order to keep the economy growing, as almost all economists deem necessary, more energy will be required thus further necessitating change in energy usage, efficiency, and policy. These changes are possible, though the goal is lofty. Working with the technology and innovation of today, we must maximize energy efficiency and cost effective reduction in emissions if we are to make strides towards and eventually achieve carbon neutrality. As we get closer to our environmental goals, effort must be increased and sustained in renewable energy development.
ReplyDeleteThe skeptics' views on achieving carbon neutrality bring up some important points. The main value I took from these perspectives is that there is a problem in defining carbon neutrality particularly as it relates to the scope for which an individual or organization is responsible. This is definitely a concern as it separates the issue of carbon neutrality into the categories of "my problem" and "not my problem." As the definitions of carbon neutrality evolve and the scope of each person's or group's responsibility is hammered out, some of this confusion will be lessened. Still, I don't like the fact that the window is open for organizations to call themselves carbon neutral without actually achieving anything close to that. Ideally, we will eventually have a comprehensive and accurate way of estimating an organization's (and individual's) climate footprint and can use that to determine a climate neutrality goal in areas that the organization has immediate and direct control over. Areas that are significant GHG contributors but are not under the direct control of the organization could be analyzed and reductive goals could be set to meet the overall goal of saving the planet (i.e. GHGs coming from a produced good's inputs would be estimated and suppliers of less GHG intensive inputs would be sought). It is only if we look at the problem fully and understand interrelationships can we get beyond the blame game and achieve real progress.
This leads to the question of the limitations and responsibilities of universities in the quest for carbon neutrality. I believe the university has a responsibility to be on the forefront of the environmental movement towards carbon neutrality. In some political circles, the causality of global warming is questioned, but in the scientific community, the impact of humankind's endeavors is directly linked to the earth's environmental crisis. Universities and colleges must take it upon themselves to educate their students about the scientific facts surrounding global warming and humankind's contribution (creation) of the problem. Within this academic effort, sustainability must emerge as an integral component of multiple academic studies. In so doing, higher education can provide the spark for future problem solvers and instill important environmental values in all students. Also, the university must set the example for students to follow. Energy efficiency, reduced consumption, and innovative solutions to emission problems can set the stage for graduates to contribute to a global environmentally conscious community.
However, there are limitations to what the university can do. Funding and the existing goals within a university's bureaucratic system can limit what power the university has to achieve carbon neutrality. Relatedly, university organizations committed to propelling the "institution" to a goal of carbon neutrality run into the same problem encountered by corporations---the temptation to use the most narrow definition of carbon neutrality possible in order to more easily achieve goals that are often mandated by the president or chancellor of the institution. While any reductions in GHG emission is positive, if the label of carbon neutral is used or if certain "percentage reductions" are obtained without a true comprehensive analysis, students will see through the fallacy of the university's claimed gains. Unfortunately, this can lead to the perception by students of carbon neutrality efforts being linked more directly to political and image related goals than to true carbon neutral, earth-saving ends.
Additionally, universities are limited by the energy available to them. In the event that the university does not have the money, technology, or available space to build a renewable energy power plant/system on campus, the university's energy must come from an outside source. The majority of the university's CO2 emission problem stems from electricity usage, and thus, universities are at the mercy of the power suppliers available to them. Hopefully, this problem will be lessened somewhat by increasing state and national standards for energy providers to provide "cleaner" energy, but this is clearly an area that is difficult for the university to take care of on its own. Furthermore, increasing interest in and emphasizing the importance of sustainability is something the university has a responsibility to do, but mobilizing a student populace in this endeavor must ultimately come from the students. The future resides in the hands of the youth, and universities cannot force them into caring and acting. Still, if a "climate of sustainability" is integrated into the collegiate atmosphere, then there is a good chance of creating informed, action-oriented, and environmentally responsible students and citizens.
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ReplyDeleteIs carbon neutrality possible? The answer to this question depends entirely on what sort of entity is attempting to achieve carbon neutrality. Physically and fiscally, it is much more feasible for an individual, family unit, or relatively small organization to attain this goal than for instance, a large organization or an entity which by its nature creates greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. Xcel, or another public utility). While it might be possible for company A to take all the necessary steps to eliminate their greenhouse gas contribution, significant financial barriers most likely exist. In my opinion, if any one factor will make carbon neutrality impossible for an organization, it will be the money factor.
ReplyDeleteFor large organizations, including colleges and universities, the other primary challenge lies in the measurement and accountability of their emissions. There are simply so many different sources of emissions to account for and so much ambiguity in their measurement; people can and do spend their careers quantifying a company’s emissions. Families face the challenge of fundamentally changing their lifestyle if they truly want to become carbon neutral.
On a large scale, carbon neutrality is possible but highly unlikely. The concept is quite useful however, in that it serves as an ideal to which we all can strive. Without a lofty goal, no progress is ever made.
January 21, 2009 7:28 PM
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ReplyDeleteI personally believe that a true carbon neutral is possible, but is going to take some serious time for any company of scale to achieve. As we saw in the article companies are already eliminating all the carbon from the first tier consisting of all the emissions directly created by the company itself, excluding whatever emmissions come from the outside. It seems pretty logical that if the large leading companies of the world are setting the pace, eventually all the outside entities are going to feel the pressure to conform and become carbon neutral as well.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite bothersome that no real standards on carbon neutrality exist. To achieve better faster progress some entity needs to create a standard so consumers can get a real idea of who's really carbon neutral and to what extent. I think something similar to the Leeds standard for classifying buildings as either bronze silver or gold based upon hw enviornmentally friendly they are built.
It will be very hard to convince many conservative economists that carbon neutrality is economically efficient at this point. I agree with Monster that carbon neutrality is a nice idealistic goal, but that it may prove to be logistically impossible. Only when consumers truly demand 'green' products will it be fully efficient for producers to supply green. Whether this be in the form of carbon neutral production or environmentally friendly products. Eventually, hopefully not too late, individuals will realize the risks associated with global warming and change their consumption and lifestyle habits.
ReplyDeleteAre we supposed to blog on here about what the biggest waste of paper is?
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