22 ENviroNMENt
The global heat is on: preparing
for a carbon-constrained world
limate change has become a 50–85 per cent by 2050 to prevent average global
No longer are we
C
business reality, to which companies temperatures from rising more than 2°C. In the
asking whether there
must react. As a consequence, short and medium term, much of the emphasis
should be limitations
business executives are asking to act will be on the developed economies,
on emissions, but when themselves questions such as: How should my Europe, North America, Japan and Oceania,
and how. Measuring
company prepare for a carbon-constrained world? home to just a fifth of the world’s population,
carbon emissions along
Do I know how much CO
2
, or greenhouse but responsible for nearly half of the world’s
the value chain is
gases (GHG) in general, my company emits annual CO
now vital as Dr Peter J
2
emissions. Developing economies,
to make the products it depends upon? Do I even though their emissions are growing rapidly,
Nieuwenhuizen reports.
know how much CO
2
is emitted to produce the expect OECD countries to reduce emissions
raw materials I buy? What is my total financial sharply; to ‘make room’ for their fair share of
Ya no se plantea si
exposure once CO
2
is fully priced in? And emissions as they develop their economies, the
se deben limitar las
how does my company stack up against others, OECD countries should mathematically reduce
emisiones, sino cuándo fulfilling customer demands and requirements? by as much as 80-90 per cent. Indeed, the
y cómo. Ahora resulta
Also, what does a product carbon footprint developed world is taking up the challenge and
vital la medición de las
look like, what is driving its emergence, and how implementing a variety of initiatives, like a cap-
emisiones de carbono en
can companies prepare to do business in a and-trade programme, that will impose a price
toda la cadena de valor
carbon-constrained world? on carbon emissions. Estimates about the future
tal como informa el Dr
Peter J Nieuwenhuizen.
Without action, global emissions are forecast price of carbon vary from as low as E25 ($38) up
to double by 2030. The Intergovernmental Panel to E150 ($200). Wherever the price settles, the
on Climate Change, the advisory body to world impact will be substantial.
Mittlerweile fragen wir
leaders, concluded in 2007 that global carbon To understand their exposure, companies
nicht mehr, ob dioxide emissions would need to fall by first need to know how much carbon is emitted
Emissionen
eingeschränkt werden
sollten, sondern wir
interessieren uns für das
wann und wie. Einem
Bericht von Dr. Peter J.
Nieuwenhuizen zufolge
sind Messungen von
Kohlendioxidemissionen
in der gesamten
Wertekette mittlerweile
unerlässlich.
Fig. 1. The world
under pressure.
Without action,
global emissions
are forecast to
double by 2030.
Companies need
to know how
much carbon is
emitted to
produce their
products or
services.
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