This page contains ongoing discussions on approaches and alternatives. The idea is to help to shape, test and articulatenew ideas through discussion and debate.
Method: Propose a theme, articulate a point of view and formulate its practical implications. Then invite others to challenge, refine or elaborate.
Theme 1: Climate Accounting and SDG Accounting
Premise
Accounting for greenhouse gas emission is a special case of accounting for outcomes that are beneficial to humanity as a whole. Arguably the most widely supported comprehensive list of such outcomes are the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs). Goal 13 of the SDGs is "Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts".
Developing tools and procedures for greenhouse gas accounting within a generic framework for SDG accounting of which greenhouse gas accounting is a special case will enable better integration of results and address issues such as double counting / double crediting. It will also enable the facilitate the wider use of soem of the tools developed in the context of GHG accounting.
Basic structure of SDG accounting
The below gives a high level comprison of example of the
Example: GHG reduction through efficient cookstoves | Example: Recycling electronics | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate stability | Environment without toxic materials. Fair and effective use of limited resources (e.g. metals). | |
2. SDG alligned 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 devices 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 | |
6. Agent responsibility model and entity demarcation | Households own and operate cookstoves | Cities and municipalities operate waste services within their jurisdiction | |
7. Comparisons (counterfactual or real) | |||
8. Data transformations | |||
9. Data gathering |