Greenhouse Gas

A critical factor for our world, Greenhouse Gas...

Today, we will discuss how we affect our world, how this occurs, what we need to do, and your company's position in this process. 

If you are ready, let's get started...

What is Greenhouse Gas?

Types of Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gas is a gas that is present in the atmosphere and retains some of the sunlight that reflects from the earth, preventing this light from reflecting back into space. This process is called the greenhouse effect. The excessive increase of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere as a result of human activities leads to global warming and climate change.

In the Kyoto Protocol, greenhouse gases are defined under six main categories: CO2 (the most), CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6. These gases can occur naturally in the atmosphere or can be produced as a result of human activities, and each one has a different potential for greenhouse effect.

The Impact of Greenhouse Gases on Climate

We have been physically feeling the impact of greenhouse gases on the climate for a long time. Many of us know this as global warming. However, the effects of greenhouse gases are not limited to this: 

• Sea Level Rise

• Ocean Acidification

• Disruption of Ecosystems and Biodiversity

• Reduction of Water Resources

• Loss of Biodiversity

• Degradation of Agriculture

We can continue to diversify these outcomes. This process is interconnected like a chain, and we must first gain control of this chain and then break it fundamentally.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Greenhouse gas emissions are the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into or absorbed by the atmosphere. A greenhouse gas emissions inventory is a technical report that identifies the greenhouse gas emissions and absorptions of organizations or a specific functional area in accordance with international norms. This inventory includes sources of greenhouse gases, amounts of emissions, and the time intervals in which the emissions occur. 

The creation and management of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory are carried out using various international standards and guidelines:

• GHG Greenhouse Gas Protocol – Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard 

• ISO14064 – Requirements for the quantification, reporting, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

• IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories

Reduction and Control of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is very important, and this can be achieved through energy conservation, increasing energy efficiency, widespread use of renewable energy sources, and implementing carbon-neutral projects. These methods can significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by decreasing fossil fuel consumption and transitioning to cleaner energy options. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy have the potential to minimize carbon footprints. Energy efficiency can be achieved by technological innovations and improvements in buildings, industry, and transportation, thus reducing energy consumption and consequently greenhouse gas emissions.

How Will Organizations Exporting to the European Union (EU) Calculate Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

Of course, with CarbonSmart 😊

The European Union is a global leader concerning reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, given all existing processes. The EU has established a system called the Emissions Trading System (ETS) that regulates carbon markets and has set emission reduction targets for facilities emitting greenhouse gases engaged in trade within the European Union. These companies must comply with certain standards in both their exports and imports. The process of calculating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions must be carried out in accordance with these rules and standards.

• Identifying Emission Sources: The first step is to identify the sources of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the organization's activities. These may come from various sources such as fossil fuel use, industrial processes, livestock activities, deforestation, and synthetic fertilizer use.

• Selecting Emission Calculation Methods: Once the emission sources are identified, appropriate methods must be chosen to calculate the amounts of emissions originating from these sources. The EU provides certain methodologies and emission factors for emission calculations.

• Data Collection and Calculation: The organization must collect the necessary data to calculate greenhouse gas emissions from emission sources. This may involve data obtained from fuel consumption, production processes, waste management activities, and other relevant activities.

• Validation: Under the EU ETS, organizations’ emission reports must be verified by validators accredited by the accreditation bodies of EU member countries. This is an important step in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the reports.

• Reporting: Verified emission data must be reported to relevant EU institutions in accordance with the format and timeline set by the EU. This reporting is used to monitor and evaluate progress toward emission reduction targets.

Companies exporting from Turkey to the EU need to establish the processes outlined above.

CarbonSmart is right here with you. With its technological infrastructure and highly knowledgeable staff in the field of sustainability, it provides you with technological support throughout all these processes. You can carry out all of these processes on a single platform and take advantage of reduction opportunities when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint in the very near future.

(It is planned to increase the linear reduction factor set for the ETS for 2024 to 4.5% in 2026 and to 4.6% after 2029. This way, emissions under the ETS will be reduced by 63% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.)

What Does the EU Emission Trading System Mean for Turkey?

The European Union’s Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (BCAM) is considered an important step in the global fight against climate change. This mechanism aims to contribute to the reduction of global carbon emissions by targeting the carbon intensity of products imported from outside the EU. Carbon fees, to be determined based on weekly rates in the EU Emission Trading System (ETS), will be applied to products exported to the EU, which will create significant impacts on exporting countries.

For Turkey to export to the EU without paying additional taxes under the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism, it is essential to implement an emission trading system similar to the EU ETS. This system encourages reductions in emissions by allowing trading of greenhouse gas emissions within a specified limit. If Turkey effectively implements this system and local producers pay their emissions-related taxes according to this system, they may be exempt from the BCAM. This approach will help preserve the competitive edge of producers and exporters in Turkey while also contributing to global efforts to combat climate change. Turkey's adoption of this mechanism is an important step toward fulfilling international commitments to reduce carbon emissions. Furthermore, this situation aligns with Turkey's sustainable development goals.

What is CarbonSmart doing?

It offers technological solutions that enable you to manage and reduce your carbon footprint in accordance with regulatory requirements and standards.

For detailed information about our solutions, you can contact us.