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Information and Explanations on Carbon Accounting
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WHAT IS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT?
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CARBON ACCOUNTING
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CARBON REPORT
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CPRS, CARBON POLLUTION REDUCTION SCHEME
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NGER, NATIONAL GREENHOUSEGAS ENERGY
REPORTING
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INTERACTION OF CPRS and NGER
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ISO 14001:2004
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ISO
14064:2006
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ISO
14065:2007
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WHAT IS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT? The greenhouse effect
often gets a bad reputation because of its association with global warming, but the truth is we couldn't live without
it. Life on earth depends on energy from the sun. About 30 percent of the sunlight that beams toward Earth is deflected
by the outer atmosphere and scattered back into space. The rest reaches the planet's surface and is reflected upward
again as a type of slow-moving energy called infrared radiation.
As it rises, infrared radiation is absorbed by "greenhouse gases" such as water vapor, carbon dioxide,
ozone and methane, which slows its escape from the atmosphere. Although greenhouse gases make up only about 1 percent
of the Earth's atmosphere, they regulate our climate by trapping heat and holding it in a kind of warm-air blanket
that surrounds the planet.
This phenomenon is what scientists call the "greenhouse effect." Without it, scientists estimate that
the average temperature on Earth would be colder by approximately 30 degrees Celsius, far too cold to sustain our
current ecosystem. |
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CARBON ACCOUNTING: It can be very confusing about
who is affected under the governments Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. It continues to evolve from the first
green paper, to the white paper and now the recent GFC effects. In a nutshell, large Corporations will be required
to identify their carbon footprint (the amount of man-made carbon they produce) by June 2011. This is an Emmisons
Trading Scheme or sometines referred to as Cap and Trade. Corporations will be issued permits with a cap on the
amount of carbon emmitted. They can however buy credits from those who pollute less so they can increase output.
They will be seeking suppliers who have accurate information on their carbon output, thus carbon accounting.
Many of you will have already received National Greenhousegas and Energy Reporting surveys from your customers.
Carbon Accounting performed by an independenet body will be possibly the equivelant of what was once "The
Approved Supplier" under a quality system. With your Carbon Report it will be required as an attachment on
tenders just as your ISO Quality, Environment and OH&S certificates are now. |
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CARBON REPORT: An accurate Carbon Report from
an independent body such as the Oz Carbon Accounting Pty Ltd does take time, but once the information is gained
it is relatively easy to maintain once the original benchmark of your carbon footprint is established. |
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CPRS: The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is
the Australian Government system for emmisons trading. Initially the scheme was too commence in July 2010 but this
was amended in May 2009 to the commencement date being July 2011 due to the effects of the GFC. Under the scheme
large corporations must identify their carbon footprint which is then capped. Their carbon footprint can be offset
by carbon reduction or by trading with companies with carbon efficient companies.
UPDATE: The CPRS was blocked twice by the opposition and is in 'limbo', however it is likely that the Gillard government
will introduce something similar in a repackaged form. |
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NATIONAL GREENHOUSE and ENERGY REPORTING Act 2007:
The NGER Act introduces a single national reporting framework for the reporting and dissemination of information
about the greenhouse gas emissions, greenhouse gas projects , and energy use and production of corporations. |
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THE INTERACTION of CPRS and NGER Act2007:The
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) is part of the Australian Government’s strategy to reduce Australia’s
carbon pollution by 60 percent of 2000 levels by 2050. The NGER Act will underpin the CPRS, providing the emissions
data on which obligations under the CPRS will be based. NGER legislation will require amendments to allow for reporting
under the CPRS. Not all corporations that report under existing NGER legislation will be subject to CPRS liabilities.
In some areas, for example in relation to the reporting of energy production, differences between the two will
remain, reflecting the varied purposes for which information is reported under NGER legislation |
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ISO 14001:2004 the requirements for environmental
management systems, confirms its global relevance for organizations wishing to operate in an environmentally sustainable
manner. Oz Carbon Accounting Pty Ltd can implement and certify companies to this international standard. |
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ISO 14064:2006 provides requirements for organizations
or persons to quantify and verify GHG emissions,
Oz Carbon Accounting Pty Ltd can lead you through
the requirements using carbon accounting methodologies. |
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ISO 14065:2007 specifies accreditation requirements
for organizations that validate or verify resulting GHG emission assertions or claims. GHG validation or verification
bodies are responsible for completing an objective assessment of GHG assertions and providing a formal written
declaration which provides assurance on the statements contained in the assertion. |
