Carbon Baseline

Defining Your Carbon Baseline

Emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere have created considerable long-term problems for us all. The concept known as global warming reveals that certain greenhouse gases remain in our atmosphere for lengthy periods of time and their radiant properties result in an overall warming trend, increasing the Earth's average temperature over time. Such an unnatural interruption to the delicate process of nature will result in considerable and adverse effects, including damage to our ecosystems and sweeping changes to our weather patterns.

Science has revealed to us that certain categories of carbon and carbon related gases are produced as a result of energy usage and these gases escape into the atmosphere. It is now recognized that to try and contain the process of global warming and climate change we must restrict the amount of emissions acceptable and each enterprise must be able to identify its level of contribution to the problem, known as a carbon footprint.

There have been a number of terms introduced to our vocabulary and in addition to carbon footprint a company must now be able to describe its carbon baseline. The carbon baseline will be a much sought-after business statistic and its measurement will enable the organization to get a clear picture of its current position and its risks and opportunities ahead.

Standards in Determining Carbon Baseline

There are a number of respected standards already in existence to enable an organization to commence work to determine its carbon baseline. The Carbon Disclosure Project and the GHG Protocol will provide an organization with the information necessary to begin the process.

Scope one (direct) and scope two (indirect) points of emission must retain focus, while ultimately scope three (mostly supply-chain or tertiary) emissions are somewhat more difficult to quantify but will ultimately, likely, be brought into the equation.

Minding Carbon Baseline Is a Step in Engaging in Corporate Sustainability

As a company unfolds its operation to determine every element of energy used, it will undoubtedly discover areas for efficiency. While it is currently expected that companies focus on scope one and scope two emissions, in many cases it is likely that scope three emissions will represent the majority of emissions attributable to an organization; for example, when a completed product is used. Note that an entire supply chain analysis is part of the product lifecycle analysis which begins with research and ends with recycling or destruction.

A process of engaging in corporate sustainability should become part of a rebirth of an organization as it seeks to make sure that it is as efficient and ecologically friendly as possible. The carbon baseline must identify all greenhouse gas emission sources and set out a full understanding of the organization's individual position as it pertains to established and expected practices. The baseline should spur a plan of action involving all members of management and staff resulting in the documentation of reachable goals.

About Verisae

Verisae helps measure, manage and reduce equipment and energy costs including the related business and environmental impacts of carbon emissions. The Sustainability Resource Planning (“SRP”) software platform improves operational efficiency, protects brand integrity and helps ensure regulatory compliance for distributed enterprises across many industries. Verisae delivers a broad range of sustainability solutions to dozens of clients globally with thousands of daily users including an extended network of third-party suppliers. Verisae’s integrated sustainability platform actively tracks millions of assets across thousands of sites worldwide.

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