Most of the greenhouse gas emissions are calculated based on emission factors
from references accepted internationally. Models and direct monitoring measurements can also be used. Better consistency and standardization in the near future
will be decisive for a higher credibility of online calculators [48].
5 Final Prospects
The magnitude and pervasive climate change impacts is a threat for economic
activities, human health and ecosystems as well. At the global level, there are
various political and regulatory instruments in place, adopted by a vast majority of
countries, being the Paris Agreement the soundest one, ratified by 189 countries.
Carbon pricing schemes are becoming popular instruments adopted by an
increasing number of countries, either as compliance emissions trading schemes or
as carbon taxes. Its effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions is demonstrated in a
multitude of examples, by turning fossil based processes costly while making clean
processes and technologies, like renewables, competitive. Carbon footprint tools
have been voluntarily adopted, by many organizations and companies as a way to
measure its climate responsibility and to manage emissions reduction along the
time. Innovation is the magical word to transform the way societies manage
everyday lives, including technologies, political and economic models, individual
and collective behaviours. World population is increasing and consumption per
capita is growing as well. New processes and technologies are required to counteract the expected greenhouse gas emissions increase. Several prospective
assessments, at global and national levels, have demonstrated it is viable to transform human systems to carbon neutral and climate resilient ones, without hamper
social welfare. Governments and businesses have a serious responsibility to drive
economies towards that goal, backed by science and innovation. However, new
human values, inspired in solidarity and frugality in collective and individual
behaviours, respectively, have to accompany novel technologies to have a chance to
keep the life on Earth safe within a stable climate system.
References
1. UN (2015) The Paris Agreement. United Nations. https://unfccc.int/files/essential_
background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agreement.pdf. Accessed 20 Abr 2020
2. IPCC (2018) Global Warming of 1.5°C. In: Masson-Delmotte V, Zhai P, Pörtner H-O,
Roberts D, Skea J, Shukla PR, Pirani A, Moufouma-Okia W, Péan C, Pidcock R, Connors S,
Matthews JBR, Chen Y, Zhou X, Gomis MI, Lonnoy E, Maycock T, Tignor M, Waterfield T
(eds) An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial
levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening
the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to
eradicate poverty, 2019 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
3. Schmidt T, Sewerin S (2017) Technology as a driver of climate and energy politics. Nat Energ
2:17084
Carbon Economy and Carbon Footprint
25
from references accepted internationally. Models and direct monitoring measurements can also be used. Better consistency and standardization in the near future
will be decisive for a higher credibility of online calculators [48].
5 Final Prospects
The magnitude and pervasive climate change impacts is a threat for economic
activities, human health and ecosystems as well. At the global level, there are
various political and regulatory instruments in place, adopted by a vast majority of
countries, being the Paris Agreement the soundest one, ratified by 189 countries.
Carbon pricing schemes are becoming popular instruments adopted by an
increasing number of countries, either as compliance emissions trading schemes or
as carbon taxes. Its effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions is demonstrated in a
multitude of examples, by turning fossil based processes costly while making clean
processes and technologies, like renewables, competitive. Carbon footprint tools
have been voluntarily adopted, by many organizations and companies as a way to
measure its climate responsibility and to manage emissions reduction along the
time. Innovation is the magical word to transform the way societies manage
everyday lives, including technologies, political and economic models, individual
and collective behaviours. World population is increasing and consumption per
capita is growing as well. New processes and technologies are required to counteract the expected greenhouse gas emissions increase. Several prospective
assessments, at global and national levels, have demonstrated it is viable to transform human systems to carbon neutral and climate resilient ones, without hamper
social welfare. Governments and businesses have a serious responsibility to drive
economies towards that goal, backed by science and innovation. However, new
human values, inspired in solidarity and frugality in collective and individual
behaviours, respectively, have to accompany novel technologies to have a chance to
keep the life on Earth safe within a stable climate system.
References
1. UN (2015) The Paris Agreement. United Nations. https://unfccc.int/files/essential_
background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agreement.pdf. Accessed 20 Abr 2020
2. IPCC (2018) Global Warming of 1.5°C. In: Masson-Delmotte V, Zhai P, Pörtner H-O,
Roberts D, Skea J, Shukla PR, Pirani A, Moufouma-Okia W, Péan C, Pidcock R, Connors S,
Matthews JBR, Chen Y, Zhou X, Gomis MI, Lonnoy E, Maycock T, Tignor M, Waterfield T
(eds) An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial
levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening
the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to
eradicate poverty, 2019 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
3. Schmidt T, Sewerin S (2017) Technology as a driver of climate and energy politics. Nat Energ
2:17084
Carbon Economy and Carbon Footprint
25