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Example: GHG reduction through efficient cookstoves | Example: Recycling electronics | What is specific or generic about it? | |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Desired end state | Climate stability | Environment without toxic materials. Fair and efficient use of limited resources (e.g. metals). | Both relate to goals articulated in the SDGs |
2. SDG aligned to desired end state | SDG 13: combat climate change and its impacts | SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns | |
3. Causal model related to the end state | "GHG emissions lead to climate change" | "If dumped in landfills, incinerated or incorrectly recycled, toxic materials from electronic device components are released into the environment. " | |
4. Target intermediate states and activities | Limit GHG emissions | Target 12.5 "By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse" | |
| 5. Activity and state metrics | Express GHG emissions in terms of the global warming potential of 1 tonne of CO2 over 100 years | Mass of e-waste recycled % of all e-waste recycled from a specific facility, area or agent | Generic: all state metrics have a unit of measure, an underlying rationale, and an argument for their credibility. |
6. Agent responsibility model and entity demarcation | Households own and operate cookstoves | Cities and municipalities operate waste services within their jurisdiction | The principles according to which agents are identified and entities and activities are demarcated are probably fairly generic. |
7. Scenario comparisons (counterfactual or real) | Households are assumed to optimise their utility but established patterns have a certain inertia. It is assumed that adoption of new stoves will take place if there are no barriers to such adoptions. | Methods for establishing scenarios are also probably very generic | |
8. Data transformations | A specific methodology will typically prescribe the calculation procedures | All transformations have to be rational and repeatable | |
9. Data gathering | A specific methodology will typically prescribe the data collection procedures. | Scientific methods of observation and measurement have wide application and acceptance |
Generic formulation
An agent deliberately engages in an activity.
The activity impacts some state about which there is broad consensus.
The agent presents a claim about the outcome of the activity they undertook and the nature and magnitude if the impact that it had/s on the state.
Standards determine the content and structure of such a claim and allow a third party to assess the veracity of thereof.
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Agents
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- unique identifier (identity)
- type (individual or group; if group, what type of group, e.g. organisation, company or movement; auditor)
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Agent asserts their identity
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Digital signature
Demonstration of control (challenge-response)
Activities
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- unique identifier
- location
- start time
- end time (possibly)
- agent
- inputs (e.g. materials and energy; consumables and non-consumables)
- outputs
- processes
- objective (create, reduce, destroy, avoid) (optional / not required in all instances)
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PDDs
MRs
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States
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- unique identifier
- location
- point in time
- indicators (metrics)
- type (actual [measured] or baseline [counterfactual])
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PDDs
MRs
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Someone or something gathers data
- observes a phenomenon using some instrument
Someone or something presents data as a claim
Someone or something evaluates the claim
An audit (the process / action of verifying an impact claim)
- unique identifier
- auditor ID
- impact claim ID
- date
A standard
- unique identifier
- applicability - type of agent, type of activity, state
- requirements (e.g. reporting requirements, calculation requirements)
- version
An indicator
- definition
- unit of measure
- rationale
- calculation
- credibility
An impact claim (a state change claim)
- unique identifier
- unit of measure
- magnitude
- state "before"
- state "after"
- causal connection between agent and activity
- standard followed (ID)
- effect (e.g. primary or secondary)
Should there be an event class? An event is like an activity but without the intention of an agent. An accident is an event but it is not an activity.
The choice
SDG goal
The SDG goals are described as a set of targets under each SDG.
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Measured part
Counterfactual part
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Testing the framework with a practical use case: personal climate footprint calculators
Calculators
| Parameter | Footprint calculator | Climate Neutral Now |
|---|---|---|
| URL | https://www.footprintcalculator.org | https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/footprintcalc |
| Owner /operator | Global Footprint Network | UNFCCC |
| Agent | Individual or households | Individual or households |
| Activities | ||
| "Scope 2" activities | ||
| "Scope 3" activities | ||
| States | Global atmospheric CO2 contentration | Global atmospheric CO2 contentration |
| Global atmospheric methane contentration | ||
| I | ||
Theme 2: Ontology languages and editors
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