Transcript SABS
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.