ENVIRONMENTAL

LITERACY
8TH PRESENTATION

Assoc. Prof. Pınar Gedikkaya Bal

To be carbon neutral, carbon footprint should
be measured
• A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact your activities have on
the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced through the burning of
fossil fuels and is expressed as a weight of CO2 emissions produced in
tonnes.

• The dictionary definition of a carbon footprint is “the amount of

carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the
activities of a particular individual, organisation or community.”
To be carbon neutral:
You should emit zero carbon…

Or

You should offset your carbon emissions…

Offsetting your carbon emissions:
• Offsetting balances the amount of
greenhouse gases present in any
region with greenhouse gas reductions
in another region.

• For example; If a firm generates 100

tons of carbon emissions due to
electricity use and business travel, it
can offset these emissions by
purchasing 100 tons of carbon credits
to neutralize the carbon’s negative
impact (so it becomes carbon neutral).
Why is the carbon footprint measured?
• Legal obligation
• Corporate social responsibility
• Customer or investor requests
• Marketing and corporate image
• Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction (mandatory / voluntary)
• Participation in emissions trading mechanisms
How to calculate carbon footprint?
• Greenhouse Gas Protocol

• ISO 14064

• PAS 2060

Global standards are used…

SCOPES
• Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from company-owned and controlled
resources. In other words, emissions released to the atmosphere as a direct
result of a set of activities, at a firm level. 

• Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased

energy, from a utility provider. In other words, all GHG emissions released in
the atmosphere, from the consumption of purchased electricity, steam, heat
and cooling.

• Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions – not included in scope 2 – that
occur in the value chain of the reporting company
How to reduce carbon footprint
• Energy consumption can be reduced and made more efficient.
• Afforestation is contributed.
• Garbage can be thrown into recycling bins.
• Green options can be preferred for shopping.
• Public transportation may be preferred instead of a personal vehicle.
• Direct flights can be preferred.
• Electric or hybrid vehicles can be preferred.
Voluntary carbon markets
• These are markets created to voluntarily reduce greenhouse gas
emissions resulting from the activities of institutions, organizations or
individuals.

• They are demanded by buyers in different sectors who are aware of

their responsibility to the environment.

• These markets allow those who pollute the environment to pay for
their costs.
Voluntary carbon markets
• It is the biggest incentive mechanism for renewable energy
investments.

• It has a very important place in financing sustainable development ...

• The development of the carbon market will help increase investments

in renewable energy, increase in domestic energy use, decrease
foreign dependency, increase employment and consequently
decrease the current account deficit.
Contribution of a Project to carbon reduction
• Reference: Emissions if the project is not realized

• Original Contribution: Reduction, technical, social and economic

contributions realized by the project

• Carbon certificate: 1 ton greenhouse gas reduction in CO2 equivalent