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OUR RESPONSE TO CLIMATE
CHANGE THROUGH STANDARDS
BY VANIDA LENNON
INTRODUCTION
Uncertainties certainly exist about future trends as a result of climate
change. But the certainties and near certainties are equally important.
Today the scientific community agrees on three key points:
• The earth is warming
• The primary cause of this warming is fossil fuel consumption
• If we don’t act now to reduce emissions, this problem will only
get worse.
What are core functions of SABS
According to the Standards Act, (Act 8, 2008) The objects of the
SABS are to:
•
Develop, promote and maintain South African
National Standards;
•
Promote quality in connection with commodities,
products and services; and
•
Render conformity assessment services and
matters connected therewith.
Essence of Standards and Standardization
1. improve the quality of life in society through enhanced awareness
on safety issues, maintenance of societal health and
environmental preservations.
2. improve the quality of South African products, services and
processes of production.
3. ensure the efficient utilization of existing resources through better
and improved communication.
GAPS IN GOVERNMENT RESPONSE – CLIMATE
CHANGE
Climate change policies
• Climate change is now a mainstream political issue.
However, there is no yet substantive framework for
policy which offers coherence and consistency as
to how national governments should cope with the
long-term political challenges of climate change.
• Presently, the public discussion on climate change
tends to be partial and disparate.
• Loosely connected debates hinge on:
GAPS IN GOVERNMENT RESPONSE – CLIMATE
CHANGE - cont
Evidence that climate change is occurring and estimates of its
potential impacts;
The prospects for agreeing on an international framework for
an economic response to, for instance, carbon trading;
futurology surrounding the potential for technological
innovation that could solve the problem.
Such a debate is often limited in scope and is too
compartmentalised. In order to come to terms with urgent need for
mitigation and adaptation, a broad policy perspective is required
because the impact of climate change challenges every corner of the
21st century state.
COMMON THEMES AND POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS
Clear and consistent policy signals are urgently needed
•
Both broad (economy-wide) and technology-specific policies
are essential
•
There is a need to balance policy flexibility with reasonable
policy certainty
•
A sustained carbon price signal through policies such as cap
and trade or carbon taxes might be the most important crosscutting policy driver
•
Mandatory GHG emission reporting might be an essential tool
for identifying and stimulating reductions
COMMON THEMES AND POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS
A portfolio of technologies will be needed to drive the absolute
reductions of GHG emissions necessary to address climate
change
• No single technology or policy will be sufficient to enable low
carbon future
• All technologies studied so far have the potential, but revamped
research, development and deployment (RD&D) is necessary in
all of them
• Energy efficiency will provide the greatest opportunity in the
near term and will remain important over the long term as well
• While specific technologies are likely to be important players, it
is important to avoid the temptation to pick “winners”
•
COMMON THEMES AND POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS
A low-carbon technology revolution will require both
leadership and broad engagement throughout society
• Policies should address climate change in the context of
other societal goals (e.g., clean air, energy security) taking
advantage of creating public/private partnerships
• Clear and unambiguous target set by corporate leaders
and governments can have a significant positive effect on
achieving GHG reductions
• Greater focus is needed on critical energy challenges,
both in terms of resources and innovative technology
COMMON THEMES AND POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is essential to start now
• It is imperative to begin now with clear statements of
policy and both cross-cutting and technology
specific policies and investments in order to transit
to a low-carbon economy
TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES
Energy Efficiency
Energy
conservation
and
environmental
protection are keys to sustainability. The drive for
improved energy efficiency and renewable energy
sources needs to be addressed by globally
accepted standards.
TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES –
cont.
The technological potential for energy efficiency improvements now and
in the future is significant, yet this potential is not likely to be
realized through market forces alone. We need policies that address
the technical, cost, and societal hurdles facing widespread
improvements in energy efficiency. In addition to price signals and
reporting, certain standards, incentives, and RD&D programs can
increase the use of efficient technologies. These options include:
• Adoption and promotion of codes and standards focused on
maximizing GHG reductions (e.g., for buildings, vehicles and
appliances);
• Increase in public RD&D in innovative energy efficiency
technologies; and
• Incentives for the private and public procurement of highly
efficient technologies
TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES
Hydrogen in transportation
Specific policies are needed to address the major challenges to hydrogen
becoming the low-carbon transportation fuel of the future. Near-term policy
options to enable future widespread deployment of hydrogen and other
potentially low-carbon transportation technologies include:
• Continued and increased state support for hydrogen-related R&D in
targeted areas (e.g., low-carbon hydrogen production, storage, and fuel
cells);
• National and international harmonization of hydrogen codes and
standards
• Incentives to increase the development and deployment of lower-GHG
transportation technologies (e.g., hybrids), many of which are part of an
evolutionary path toward the use of fuel cells; and
• Increased consumer and public education regarding transportation,
energy use, and GHG emissions.
TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES
Carbon sequestration/Coal gasification
In order to answer critical R&D questions and to commercialize
carbon capture and storage (CCS), significant effort must be made
over the next 10 to 15 years. Near-term steps include:
• A coordinated international effort to deploy coal gasification
with CCS through trial projects that focus on technical issues;
• Establishment of carbon sequestration trial projects to validate
integrity of geologic storage;
• Beginning to establish regulatory framework for underground
carbon dioxide (CO2 ) storage;
• Establishing frameworks to encourage improved farm and
forest management that enhance carbon storage (i.e., sinks)
TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES
Renewables
Despite significant potential for growth of renewables, these resources
currently only provide a small fraction of commercial energy. Closing
the gap between the current low level of renewables deployment and
their high potential will require significant and sustained policies. Nearterm policy options include:
• Establishment of a national Renewable Portfolio Standard with
set-asides for specific generation technologies and tradable
renewable energy credits;
• A major RD&D effort by DoE focused on the use of renewables
beyond niche markets
• National test beds for new electricity grid systems that enable a
broader set of power supply options, including intermittent and
distributed energy and combined heat and power
TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES
Renewables
• Increased research on expanding energy storage options
• Pollution fees for polluting energy sources; and
• Continued and consistent support (e.g., through tax credits) to
help renewables become competitive with fossil fuels for
electricity generation.
TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES
Renewable energy candidates
Solar energy
Biomass energy
Hydro electricity
Biogas energy
Wind energy
Ocean energy
• Standards should take end use devices into account, and
consider their integration with auxiliary energy sources.
• Standards are also needed for the installation, inspection and
maintenance of renewable systems to enhance consumer
access and confidence in renewable technology
TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES
Advanced Nuclear power generation
The ability of nuclear power to play a significant role in reducing GHG
emissions over the next half century depends upon what happens in
the next 10 to 15 years. The question is whether, in that time frame,
the nuclear industry can overcome serious obstacles, including
economic concerns, waste, and safety. Near-term policy options:
• Electricity production tax credits for “first mover” nuclear
plants;
• Public dialogue and education regarding the costs and
benefits of nuclear power, especially in the context of climate
change.
THE ROLE OF SABS IN SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
MAIN FOCUS
The world is challenged by a changing climate, loss of
biodiversity, abject poverty and environmental degradation.
WHAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Good ideas, creativity, passion, innovation and the application of
standards in order to achieve - in a consistent manner – positive
change.
STANDARDS – A SOLUTION TO
GLOBAL CHALLENGES
STANDARDS IN A CHANGING CLIMATE
•
Means to ensure that our actions lead to a better quality of
life and a safer evolution of human kind.
•
Key tools in influencing sustainability.
•
Provide avenues toward improved environmental
performance
•
Make a valuable contribution to environmental protection
(Applicable standard: ARP 720, Guide for addressing environmental
issues in product standards
•
Standards ensure that our products meet the highest
environmental standards
•
Standards help Government in regulating the behaviour of
producers in order to protect consumers. Regulation is there to protect
the public interest against the undesirable outcomes from unregulated
markets.
STANDARDS – A SOLUTION TO
GLOBAL CHALLENGES
•
•
•
•
Standards are vital towards Energy security: Oil, coal and natural
gas are expected to dominate energy supply for decades to come.
Climate policy must recognize the role these critical energy sources play
to ensure security of supply
Standards are central to conservation: Energy efficiency and
conservation are the most immediate and cost–effective sources of "new"
energy with no GHG emissions. Government programs to promote energy
efficiency and conservation must continue and should be enhanced.
Standards ensure broad equitable treatment: Broad and equitable
treatment of all sectors of the economy is necessary to ensure no sector
or company is disproportionately burdened.
Standards enable technology: Emerging technology and as-yetunknown technological breakthroughs have the potential to significantly
reduce GHG emissions if they can be developed to commercial scale
STANDARDS – A SOLUTION TO
GLOBAL CHALLENGES
•
Standards encourages transparency: The costs,
risks, trade-offs and uncertainties associated with climate
policies must be openly communicated.
•
Renewable electricity standards can positively
impact the climate by reducing the amount of electricity
generated from coal, and thus the total amount of emissions
generated from the power sector.
•
Secondary benefits of standards include reduced
reliance on foreign sources of oil and gas (which comprise
approximately 20 percent of electricity generation), stability in
the supply and cost of electricity, and the creation of high-tech
“green” jobs
PUBLISHED STANDARDS
•
The SANS/ISO 14064 standards provide government and
industry with an integrated set of tools for programs aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as for emissions
trading.
•
SANS/ISO 14064 comprises three standards, respectively
detailing specifications and guidance for the organisational and
project levels, and for validation and verification.
SANS/ISO 14064
1. ISO 14064 part 1 – Greenhouse gases: specification with guidance at the
organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas
emissions and removals.
2. ISO 14064 part 2 – Greenhouse gases: specification with guidance at the
project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas
emissions reductions and removal enhancements.
3. ISO 14064 part 3 – Greenhouse gases: specification with guidance for the
validation and verification of greenhouse gas assertions.
Requirements of the applicable GHG
programs or intended user
•
Application of SANS/ISO14001 together with the SANS/ISO14064
standards can provide an excellent framework for effective
environmental management addressing the GHG impacts of an
organisation.
•
GHG emission sources should be considered as significant
aspects within environmental policies because of their impact on
the environment. SANS/ISO 14064 provides tools for effective
measurement of these impacts and SANS/ISO14001 an effective
management system to initiate and progress improvement or
containment actions.
Implementing ISO 14064 is intended to
achieve the following benefits
•
Promote consistency, transparency and credibility in GHG
quantification, monitoring, reporting and verification;
•
Enable organisations to identify and manage GHG-related
liabilities, assets and risks;
•
Facilitate the trade of GHG allowances or credits, ; and
•
Support the design, development and implementation of
comparable and consistent GHG schemes or programs.
SANS/ISO 14065
•
SANS/ISO 14065 – Greenhouse gases: specification for greenhouse gas
validation and verification bodies for use in accreditation and other forms
of recognition.
•
ISO 14065 recognizes that a number of GHG programs are being used in
various jurisdictions, underscoring the need for a clear and consistent
approach.
•
Expressly designed as flexible tools for use in voluntary or regulatory
schemes, ISO 14064 and ISO 14065 assist organizations in managing
GHG-related opportunities and risks, and support the environmental
integrity of GHG claims.
The objectives of the ISO 14064 and
ISO 14065 standards include:
•
Developing flexible, regime-neutral tools for use in voluntary or regulatory
GHG schemes.
•
Promoting and harmonizing best practices.
•
Supporting the environmental integrity of GHG assertions.
•
Assisting organizations to manage GHG-related opportunities and risks.
•
Supporting the development of GHG programs and markets.
SABS RESPONSE TO EE INITIATIVES
RESPONSES
CONCLUSIONS
•
There are many national and international standards which provide the
necessary tools to help businesses continually improve their sustainability
performance;
•
One of those tools is ARP 720, Guide for addressing environmental issues
in product standards;
•
Building on the well known SANS/ISO 14001, Environmental management
systems,
SABS
is
now
developing
SANS/ISO
50001,
Energy
management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, a standard
which holds great cost and energy-cutting potential for businesses in
developed and developing countries;
•
Carbon management will remain a key pressure on business throughout
the recession, and to assist with this SABS TC 207, Environmental
management, is currently working on carbon footprint quantification.
Conclusions - cont
•
Across the board, standards provide the extra cost saving, the new
customer, the new innovation with a range of benefits that can
make all the difference between sink and swim;
•
Finally, when times are tough it is natural to look for easy savings,
but the cost of using environmental and sustainability standards
can be offset against the long-term financial gains.