The leading standards for attributional life cycle assessment, such as the PAS 2050 (BSI 2011) and the WBCSD/WRI product accounting standard (WBCSD/WRI 2011a), allow the use of a method called “substitution” or “system expansion”. This summary paper briefly explains the “substitution” method and why it creates problems for attributional life cycle assessment. Continue reading →

Electricity consumption is often one of the largest sources of emissions within corporate greenhouse gas inventories, and it is therefore important to report these emissions correctly. This paper sets out how to correctly report the emissions associated with purchased electricity, and briefly notes some cases where providers of reporting/measurement guidance have got it wrong. Continue reading →

This paper sets out how an element of organisational biodiversity impact can be assessed and ranked using a tool called the Normative Biodiversity Metric (NBM). Continue reading →

In its broadest sense the rebound effect occurs when some pro-environmental activity results, directly or indirectly, in some environmental harm which partly or wholly cancels out the initial environmental benefit. This new Ecometrica paper explains the rebound effect in more detail, and discusses how it can be minimised. Continue reading →

At Ecometrica we are often asked, “How many trees do you need to store one tonne of carbon?” The amount of carbon stored by a tree depends on its size, which is influenced by many factors – the species, the local conditions and the way it is managed. In an attempt to find a simple answer to this question we tracked down a tree that stored exactly one tonne of carbon. Here we describe that tree and how we estimated its carbon content. Continue reading →

There has been confusion about whether purchasing green tariff electricity entitles the purchaser to claim zero or low emissions from their electricity consumption. This briefing note explains why, for the purposes of greenhouse emissions reporting, green tariffs generally do not … Continue reading →

The EU has taken a decision to improve and extend the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The European Commission proposed a series of changes to the ETS, which were agreed by EU member states – though with some significant amendments … Continue reading →

A summary by Ecometrica of the UK Climate Change Act that became law on 26 November 2008. Continue reading →

On 2 February 2009, Directive 2008/101/C formally brought aviation into the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Aviation activities will be included in the EU ETS from 1 January 2012, although aircraft operators will have to submit benchmarking plans by … Continue reading →

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a regional cooperative established in 2003 by states and provinces in the Northeastern United States and Canada to reduce GHG emissions. Current member are the US states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New … Continue reading →

The Voluntary Challenge and Registry (VCR) is a government‐funded program that encourages organizations in the public and private sectors to voluntarily limit and reduce GHG emissions, and report annually on emission totals and reduction measures. The VCR was highlighted as … Continue reading →

A carbon footprint is “the total set of GHG emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organisation, event or product” (Carbon Trust 2008). For example, the carbon footprint of flying from London to New York is 0.68 tonnes of … Continue reading →