Comment
what are the terms of reference for carbon emissions. Current CO2 emissions average 6.6 tonnes per capita globally, or more than twice the levels of pre-industrial times, and in developed countries can be up to 10 times as high. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main culprit in what are generally known as Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, and are created by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
Heat, industry and transport are the major emitters, accounting for around 60 per cent of the total. GHG emissions are responsible for global warming as they prevent heat from escaping into the atmosphere. Basically, the Sun emits short wave radiation (sunlight) that passes through the greenhouse gasses to heat the Earth’s surface but in return the long wave radiation is absorbed and prevents the heat from dissipating. What can be done about it? In simple terms, stop burning fossil fuels. In practical terms, start reducing the levels of CO2 emitted and create a fi nancial incentive to make it happen. Essentially, this is what carbon trading is all about and since the use of fl ame surface treatment in packaging production is a major contributor to GHG emissions, a switch to a ‘cleaner’ technology, like
corona, can off er signifi cant fi nancial benefi ts – both from lower energy consumption at a time when costs are rising, and the ability to off set reduced carbon emissions by selling them to higher emitters.
Carbon emission trading seeks to put a cash value on the volume of carbon emitted by countries thereby allowing them to meet their pledges under The Paris Agreement of 2016. There are 194 states, and the EU as one body, as of 2023 ,that have signed the Agreement, representing around 98 per cent of total GHG emissions. Emissions trading sets a quantitative total limit on the emissions produced by all participating emitters, which correspondingly determines the prices of emissions. Under emission trading, a polluter having more emissions than its quota must purchase the right to emit more from emitters with fewer emissions. This is seen as more eff ective than a fi xed carbon tax because it allows greater fl exibility. Each country defi nes its own emission trade allowance, and this varies from a low of around $7/tonne in Asia to around $63/tonne in the EU.
Emissions trading programmes such as the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU-
ETS) complement the country-to-country trading stipulated in the Kyoto Protocol by allowing private trading of permits, coordinating with national emissions targets provided under the Protocol. Under such programmes, a national or international authority allocates permits to individual companies based on established criteria, with a view to meeting targets at the lowest overall economic cost.
With most brand owners and a growing number of consumers now very aware of the term ‘carbon footprint’ and what it means to the well- being of the planet and future generations, there is no time to lose. And this is where the situation also becomes of fi nancial benefi t to those switching to lower carbon emitting practices, such as using corona rather than fl ame surface treatment for the production of packaging. By reducing the gas consumption needed for fl ame treatment and consequently reducing the energy cost, while at the same time emitting less carbon into the atmosphere that allows you to trade your lower emission rating to a higher emitter, and banking the benefi t in cash, production costs can be signifi cantly reduced – and your environmental conscience salved!
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