Data Availability for Carbon Calculators in Measuring GHG Emissions Produced by the Food Sector

 The continuing increase in burning fossil fuels over recent decades along with the changing land use have resulted in a considerable increase in the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) which can potentially lead to climate change. Adaptation processes will become necessary in order to cope with these challenges in the future. Despite individuals’ and institutions’ willingness to reduce the amount of GHG emissions caused by their actions or their "carbon footprints", they may lack the knowledge to make effective choices. Carbon calculators have been developed to address these knowledge gaps by measuring and communicating the overall magnitude of the impacts and also the extent to which different behavior patterns contribute to GHG emissions. LCA databases, as providers of inventory data for carbon calculators, have an important role in helping to develop more complete and accurate tools to measure and report produced GHG emissions. For emissions-intensive behavior patterns, the food life cycle is a significant contributor to emissions resulting from activities including agriculture, processing, transport, storage, retail, consumption, and waste handling. This research seeks to classify and characterize these calculators and the agricultural activities or practices they cover, to provide the reader with an idea on the differences between these calculators, and why some of them could be more applicable to the food sector. The intent is to bring clarity to the discussion which could be a step forward in paving the way for the development of more reliable and comprehensive carbon calculators for measuring the GHG emissions of the food secto

Reviewing the carbon footprint assessment of tourism: developing and evaluating life cycle assessment (LCA) to introduce a more holistic approach to existing methodologies.

It is universally recognised that, globally, the tourism industry is a noticeable contributor to the carbon footprint. The magnitudes of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from specific tourism products and services at local levels are less established and large variations in estimates exist. Diversity of the tourism sector, constraints in data procurement and under-development of methods for tourism carbon impact appraisal are the primary reasons. These hinder accurate evaluations and hamper development of reliable carbon performance indicators, thus making direct comparisons between tourism products and services difficult. The issue of the ‘indirect’ carbon impacts, additional carbon requirements from the nonuse phases of a product or service life cycle, which can be further magnified by the supply chain, is of special concern. These carbon footprints have never been comprehensively assessed in tourism, especially at the level of specific products and services. The evidence from the non-tourism literature suggests that the ‘indirect’ carbon impacts from tourism-related activities can be high, thus calling for more indepth research on this issue. The aim of this study is to contribute to the development of reliable carbon footprint assessment methodologies in tourism. It proposes an approach for more holistic estimates of GHG emissions from tourism products and services and appraises the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method whose merit in estimating the ‘indirect’ carbon impacts is broadly recognised. The evidence of the application of LCA in tourism is limited. To test the viability of a new technique in the tourism context, the study employs a case study approach and applies a simplified derivative of LCA, Life Cycle Energy Analysis (LCEA), to assess the carbon footprint from a popular tourism product, a holiday package tour. LCEA is compared against existing methodological alternatives for estimating carbon footprints from holiday travel. This is to understand strengths and weaknesses in the LCA (LCEA) approach, to critically evaluate the new technique compared to the alternatives, and to identify the most accurate and cost-effective method for holistic assessment. The assessment results demonstrate the importance of the ‘indirect’ GHG emissions in tourism. The findings also show that, despite the new outlook it brings to tourism carbon footprint appraisal, LCEA cannot effectively capture the full range of carbon impacts. This is because a number of methodological inconsistencies affect the accuracy of estimates. As limitations are also typical for the more established methodological alternatives, a new, hybrid LCEA-related assessment approach is developed. It is argued that this hybrid method can address the identified methodological shortcomings, thus representing currently the most rigorous technique for carbon impact appraisal in tourism. This study does more than reinforcing the methodological base for tourism carbon footprint assessment by developing a new method. It provides recommendations on how to improve the general quality and enhance the reliability of LCA (LCEA) for application in other industries where it has a long-standing tradition of use. Directions are also proposed on how to refine collection of the input data for carbon footprint assessment in tourism, in order to obtain more accurate results and reduce uncertainty in estimates. Last but not least, suggestions are made on how to integrate more carbon-effective practices in the design of specific tourism products and services

Performance assessment of urban precinct design: a scoping study

Executive Summary: Significant advances have been made over the past decade in the development of scientifically and industry accepted tools for the performance assessment of buildings in terms of energy, carbon, water, indoor environment quality etc. For resilient, sustainable low carbon urban development to be realised in the 21st century, however, will require several radical transitions in design performance beyond the scale of individual buildings. One of these involves the creation and application of leading edge tools (not widely available to built environment professions and practitioners) capable of being applied to an assessment of performance across all stages of development at a precinct scale (neighbourhood, community and district) in either greenfield, brownfield or greyfield settings. A core aspect here is the development of a new way of modelling precincts, referred to as Precinct Information Modelling (PIM) that provides for transparent sharing and linking of precinct object information across the development life cycle together with consistent, accurate and reliable access to reference data, including that associated with the urban context of the precinct. Neighbourhoods are the ‘building blocks’ of our cities and represent the scale at which urban design needs to make its contribution to city performance: as productive, liveable, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive places (COAG 2009). Neighbourhood design constitutes a major area for innovation as part of an urban design protocol established by the federal government (Department of Infrastructure and Transport 2011, see Figure 1). The ability to efficiently and effectively assess urban design performance at a neighbourhood level is in its infancy. This study was undertaken by Swinburne University of Technology, University of New South Wales, CSIRO and buildingSMART Australasia on behalf of the CRC for Low Carbon Living

Addressing the challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry: a multi-perspective approach

With average global temperatures rising and more extreme weather events recorded year on year, several counties have now declared a climate emergency. To address this emergency, 195 nations came together to sign the Paris Agreement, setting an ambitious target to keep the increase in global average temperature to well-below 2 oC, whist actively pursuing efforts to minimise the increase to 1.5 oC. Each nation was to determine its contributions to this target, stating how they would reduce carbon emissions within their control. Governments have in turn called for industry to significantly reduce their carbon emissions. Although the direct footprint of the construction industry is relatively small (for example, approximately 2.5% of the United Kingdom’s (UK) annual emissions), these numbers rise drastically when the carbon embodied in the materials, the operation and use of the assets are also included. As an example, just over half the UK’s emissions are directly or indirectly related to the construction and use of infrastructure assets. Given these figures, it is imperative that the construction industry takes steps to make deep cuts in its carbon emissions. To help the industry along the carbon management journey, the CITT (Carbon Infrastructure Transformation Tool) Project has developed an embodied carbon calculation tool to aid decision makers in developing low-carbon solutions to reduce emissions on large infrastructure projects. The tool accounts for emissions from materials, transportation and construction of an asset. This scope was selected as it is what the contractor would have direct control over and is easier to gather accurate data for embodied emissions as opposed to the operation and use phases. However, the uptake of tools such as the CIT tool has been relatively slow in the industry. This thesis takes a multi-perspective approach to understand the technological and social implications of developing and adopting an embodied carbon calculator within the construction industry. This is done first by assessing the risk of burden shifting where the use of an embodied carbon calculator may suggest emission reductions during the construction of an asset at the expense of increasing emissions elsewhere in the life cycle. Second, the thesis explores the barriers to the tool’s adoption within the industry and provides recommendations for how to enable change within organisations to increase the use of carbon calculation tools. Finally, the thesis shows how collaboration can be improved to successfully reduce carbon emissions through the infrastructure supply chain. Using a portfolio of papers, this thesis makes several important contributions. Although the risk of burden shifting has been discussed in the literature, there is little empirical evidence to support this. Paper 1 provides this evidence by studying four decision cases from a rail project. Paper 2 contributes to practice by developing a framework highlighting the steps required to overcome the barriers to the adoption of carbon calculators in the construction industry. Finally, Paper 3 brings together the literature on low-carbon supply chain management and collaboration success factors to understand how the industry can collaborate to reduce emissions through the infrastructure supply chain. Taken together, this thesis provides novel insights into the challenges of using carbon calculation tools, and advises policy and decision makers in how to improve carbon management practices within the construction industry

Addressing Climate Change in Research and Innovation Projects. A Tool for Anticipatory Carbon Footprint Calculation

[ES] El calentamiento global, y el cambio climático (CC) que produce, es una de las amenazas más globales y urgentes de las que es responsable la humanidad. El desafío de mitigar y adaptarse a la CC, entre otros, es una responsabilidad que ha alcanzado a todas las disciplinas, incluyendo el proceso de investigación e innovación. Durante más de 10 años, y como una forma de abordar estos grandes desafíos de nuestro tiempo, con la intención de fomentar la investigación responsable, la Comisión Europea ha estado promoviendo una temática transversal llamada: "Investigación e innovación responsable (RRI, en sus siglas en inglés)". El objetivo es sacar a la luz los problemas relacionados con la investigación y la innovación, anticipar sus consecuencias y hacer participar a la sociedad en el debate sobre la forma en que la ciencia y la tecnología pueden contribuir a crear el tipo de mundo y de sociedad que deseamos para las generaciones futuras. Esta tesis surge como un puente entre el gran desafío que representa el CC y la demanda por parte de la sociedad de investigación e innovación responsable, abordada en el contexto de la RRI. Los financiadores e impulsores de la investigación y la sociedad en su conjunto esperan que los equipos de investigación e innovación proporcionen resultados socialmente deseables, éticamente aceptables y sostenibles. Por lo tanto, la pregunta general que se responde en esta tesis es: ¿cómo sabe un equipo de investigación, sin ser especialista en evaluación ambiental, si su investigación es responsable de emisiones contribuyentes al cambio climático, y cómo puede incluir medidas para reducir o compensar esas emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI)? Para responder a esta pregunta, la presente tesis doctoral inicia con la descripción de los principales fundamentos que son centrales en ella: CC y RRI. En lo que respecta al primer concepto, explicamos la importancia y los medios para calcular la contribución al CC, principalmente el enfoque de la Huella de Carbono. En lo que respecta al segundo concepto, se explica la alineación de esta tesis el área clave de la sostenibilidad ambiental de la RRI, sus marcos sustantivos y sus dimensiones de anticipación y reflexividad. Una vez establecidos estos dos fundamentos, el cambio climático se aborda en el contexto de la RRI, revisando la literatura sobre los proyectos y propuestas de la RRI, incluyendo la sostenibilidad ambiental, y el CC en particular. Como resultado, surgieron dos avenidas de investigación, que se desarrollan en las siguientes secciones. Una avenida sobre cómo evaluar la influencia de las partes interesadas en un proyecto de investigación en el contexto de la RRI, desarrollada en el capítulo 3, y una avenida sobre la necesidad de nuevas herramientas basadas en bases de datos de acceso abierto para ayudar a los profesionales a integrar la prevención del CC en sus actividades de I + D. El capítulo 4, presenta el diseño de una novedosa herramienta con un algoritmo didáctico para la medición anticipada de la huella de carbono en los proyectos de investigación e innovación. Esta herramienta permite a los investigadores que no tienen formación en evaluación del impacto ambiental estimar las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero de sus proyectos de investigación e innovación en las primeras etapas, momento en el que la anticipación y la reflexividad son las dimensiones fundamentales de la RRI.[CA] L'escalfament global, i el canvi climàtic (CC) que produeix, és una de les amenaces més globals i urgents de les que és responsable la humanitat. El desafiament de mitigar i adaptar-se a la CC, entre d'altres, és una responsabilitat que ha arribat a totes les disciplines, incloent el procés de recerca i innovació. Durant més de 10 anys, i com una forma d'abordar aquests grans desafiaments del nostre temps, amb la intenció de fomentar la investigació responsable, la Comissió Europea ha estat promovent una temàtica transversal anomenada: "Recerca i innovació responsable (RRI, en seves sigles en anglès)". L'objectiu és treure a la llum els problemes relacionats amb la investigació i la innovació, anticipar les seves conseqüències i fer participar la societat en el debat sobre la forma en què la ciència i la tecnologia poden contribuir a crear el tipus de món i de societat que desitgem per a les generacions futures. Aquesta tesi sorgeix com un pont entre el gran desafiament que representa el CC i la demanda per part de la societat d'investigació i innovació responsable, abordada en el context de la RRI. Els finançadors i impulsors de la investigació i la societat en el seu conjunt esperen que els equips de recerca i innovació proporcionin resultats socialment desitjables, èticament acceptables i sostenibles. Per tant, la pregunta general que respon a aquesta tesi és: com sap un equip d'investigació, sense ser especialista en avaluació ambiental, si la seva investigació és responsable d'emissions contribuents a el canvi climàtic, i com pot incloure mesures per reduir o compensar aquestes emissions de gasos d'efecte hivernacle (GEH)? Per respondre a aquesta pregunta, la present tesi doctoral s'inicia amb la descripció dels principals fonaments que són centrals en ella CC i RRI. Pel que fa a el primer concepte, expliquem la importància i els mitjans per calcular la contribució a l'CC, principalment l'enfocament de la Petjada de Carboni. Pel que fa a el segon concepte, s'explica l'alineació d'aquesta tesi l'àrea clau de la sostenibilitat ambiental de la RRI, els seus marcs substantius i les seves dimensions d'anticipació i reflexivitat. Un cop establerts aquests dos fonaments, el canvi climàtic s'aborda en el context de la RRI, revisant la literatura sobre els projectes i propostes de la RRI, incloent la sostenibilitat ambiental, i el CC en particular. Com a resultat, van sorgir dues avingudes de recerca, que es desenvolupen en les següents seccions. Una avinguda sobre com avaluar la influència de les parts interessades en un projecte d'investigació en el context de la RRI, desenvolupada en el capítol 3, i una avinguda sobre la necessitat de noves eines basades en bases de dades d'accés obert per ajudar els professionals a integrar la prevenció de CC en les seves activitats d'R + d. El capítol 4, presenta el disseny d'una nova eina amb un algoritme didàctic per al mesurament anticipada de la petjada de carboni en els projectes de recerca i innovació. Aquesta eina permet als investigadors que no tenen formació en avaluació de l'impacte ambiental estimar les emissions de gasos d'efecte hivernacle dels seus projectes de recerca i innovació en les primeres etapes, moment en el qual l'anticipació i la reflexivitat són les dimensions fonamentals de la RRI.[EN] Global Warming, and the climate change (CC) it produces, is one of the most global and urgent threats humankinds is responsible for. The challenge of mitigating and adapting to CC, among others, is a responsibility that has reached all disciplines, including the research and innovation (R&I) process. For more than 10 years, and as a way to tackle these great challenges of our time, with the intention of fostering responsible research, the European Commission has been promoting a cross-cutting issue named: "Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)". The aim is to bring the problems (such as research integrity, non-inclusion of stakeholders, application of ethical or sustainability principles, etc.,.) related to R&I to light, to anticipate the possible consequences of R&I process and outcomes, and to engage society in the discussion of how science and technology can help create the kind of world and society we want for generations to come. This thesis emerges as a bridge between the great challenge represented by CC and the demand for responsibility from R&I process and outcomes, addressed in the context of RRI. Research funders and society as a whole claim that R&I teams must provide socially desirable, ethically acceptable, and sustainable outcomes. Hence, the general question to be answered in this thesis is: how does a research team, while not being specialists, know if its research is responsible for relevant contributions to CC, and how can they include measures to reduce or compensate such contributions (Greenhouse Gas emissions, GHG)? To respond to this question, the present dissertation begins with the main foundations that are central to it: CC and RRI. As regards the former concept, we explain the importance and means to calculate the contribution of GHG to CC, mainly the carbon footprint approach. In addition, regarding the latter, how this thesis aligns with the key RRIs' area of environmental sustainability, its substantive frameworks and its anticipation and reflexivity dimensions. Once these two foundations are established, CC is addressed in the context of RRI, reviewing the literature on RRI projects and proposals, which include environmental sustainability, and CC in particular. As a result, two avenues of research arise, which are developed in the following sections. An avenue about how to assess the stakeholders' influence in a research project within the context of RRI, which is developed in chapter 3, and an avenue about the need for new tools based on open-access databases to help practitioners to integrate CC prevention in their R&I activities. Chapter 4 presents the design of a novel tool with a didactic algorithm for anticipatory carbon footprint measuring in R&I projects. This tool allows researchers who are untrained in environmental impact assessment to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions of their R&I projects at early stages, when anticipation and reflexivity are the core RRI dimensions.Ligardo Herrera, IE. (2021). Addressing Climate Change in Research and Innovation Projects. A Tool for Anticipatory Carbon Footprint Calculation [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/165867TESI