In a recent presentation at the DIG.IT.ALL Forum Series, which ran concurrently with the International Construction Week 2023, Hans Weemaes, Director of Sustainability at Turner & Townsend, shared insightful perspectives on Carbon Accounting, stressing its foundational principles and the imperative for organisations to calculate their carbon footprints.
Weemaes, with over 15 years of experience in Sustainability – Strategy and Finance, delved into the birth of Carbon Accounting against the backdrop of the looming climate risk. He highlighted the greenhouse effect as a natural phenomenon, now exacerbated by human activities, with the scientific term “radiative forcing” describing the influence of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) on the Earth’s heat balance.
Identifying CO2 as the primary contributor to the anthropogenic greenhouse effect, Weemaes discussed other significant GHGs, such as Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Stressing the consequences of unmitigated emissions, he underscored that human-originated emissions, if unabated, could double in the next 40 years.
The speaker elucidated the essential principles of Carbon Accounting, emphasising its role in creating GHG emission inventories for nations, organisations, or products. Such inventories facilitate a better understanding of emission sources, aid in devising reduction strategies, and provide a means to track results over time.
Illustrating a spectrum of incentives, organisations embark on the journey of calculating their carbon footprints. This deliberate effort aligns with diverse motivations, where the desire to enhance environmental credibility and fulfil Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) stands alongside the anticipation of future regulatory obligations and the imperative to meet evolving stakeholder demands.
In essence, the decision to delve into carbon footprint calculation becomes a strategic choice, reflecting a nuanced approach to sustainability and a proactive stance in the face of a changing environmental landscape.
