(Jointly organized with the Hong Kong Association of Energy Engineers (HKAEE))
Programme Highlights
Carbon management has become one of the critical issues in tackling climate change. More and more organizations have been making claims of carbon neutrality for their facilities, products or services. However, the lack of common definition of carbon neutrality or recognized methods results in a growing cynicism about carbon neutrality. The newly released Public Available Specification (PAS 2060) by BSI specifies the requirements to be met by any entity seeking to demonstrate carbon neutrality through the carbon measurement, reduction and offsetting.
This seminar aims to give a technical briefing on PAS 2060, covering:
· Definition of carbon neutrality
· Steps and pathways to demonstrate carbon neutrality
· Methodologies and standards
· Carbon trading and offsetting
Report
Seminar on Carbon Neutrality in accordance with PAS 2060
By Ir Dr L Lock and Ir TY Ip
The seminar on ‘Carbon Neutrality in accordance with Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2060’ was successfully held at the HKIE Headquarters on Friday, 30th July 2010 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Ir Dr Shelley Zhou was the Speaker and the event was jointly organized by the HKIE Environmental Division and the Hong Kong Association of Energy Engineers. Ir CF Lam, Chairman of HKIE Environmental Division, chaired the session.
PAS 2060 builds on existing environmental standards such as the ISO 14,000 series and PAS 2050 - the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services. This specification can be applicable to activities, products, services, buildings, projects, towns, cities and events such as wedding parties. In the past, organizations wishing to enhance their environmental reputation made claims of carbon neutrality. However, without common definition or recognized method of achieving carbon-neutral status, there have been inconsistencies in the term's use. This specification aims to restore integrity to the concept by establishing requirements for demonstrating carbon neutrality. Carbon neutrality means that – through a transparent process of calculating emissions, reducing those emissions and offsetting residual emissions – net carbon emissions equal zero. The specification outlines a number of steps starting with full measurement of a product or firm's carbon emissions using the standards for establishing the baseline emission data. It then requires that steps are taken to reduce the carbon emissions through a carbon management plan before approved carbon credits are purchased to offset unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions so as to achieve carbon neutrality. Mandatory reduction in carbon emission is regarded as the minimum target whereas outsourcing cannot be regarded as a form of reduction. This standard can generate accurate and verifiable declarations of carbon neutrality for the organizations.
At the end of presentation, we had a very fruitful view exchange among audiences and the speaker. What value can PAS 2060 add to the environment if the achievement of carbon neutrality is made solely through carbon offsetting? Would the estimation of GHG emission for a project become very demanding if based on the PAS 2050? Nevertheless, it is expected that PAS 2060 would encourage increased action on climate change and improvements in carbon reduction management, particularly when the government announce a carbon reduction target for Hong Kong later. Ir Dr Louis Lock passed the vote of thanks to Ir Dr Zhou for providing such an inspiring seminar.