NRG 173: Carbon Footprints for Climate Action in Complex Organizations Spring Term 2011 Class 6 of 20 April 14, 2011 Kelly Hoell Good Company Eugene, OR

overview review of learning objectives review iconic graphs from course so far this session’s readings –music delivery –food-miles (“meat vs. miles”) homework and extra credit opportunity review

learning objectives this session (Session 6) –Remember main lessons from iconic graphs. –Finish discussion of LCA examples. –Hone our understanding of the largest impacts for the various contexts studied. –Decide if the examples hold insights for other contexts. for next time (Session 7) –Learn how to calculate GHG emissions. –Evaluate pros and cons of publicly available tools. (Beware black boxes) –Become familiar with available resources to find emissions factors.

GHG Accounting 101 Source: World Resources Institute

home LCA

two views of US emissions Source: EPA’s Opportunities to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Materials and Land Management Practices

An issue of fairness? source: Union of Concerned Scientists

music delivery, 1 individual activity: for each of the following, write 1-2 summary sentences –Introduction and Purposes –Who commissioned / paid for the study? Possible areas of bias? Actions taken to limit bias? –Functional Unit (what is it and why?) –What is being studied here? What are the impact categories? –What was not included in the study? Is that reasonable? review conclusions implications -Personal behavior? -Corporate behavior?

music delivery, 2 why I love this analysis –presentation of results –sensitivity analysis –clear(ish) implications for behavior, policy potential problems with the analysis –fast-changing parameters might make it difficult to draw conclusions that have much shelf life -- examples? –key LCA point: carbon and energy only Note: one data source used was EIOLCA… another was CBECS…

music delivery summary graph

another way to say it

music delivery, 2 carbon/energy focus –What else might matter? –Are carbon and energy good proxies for each other? For other types of impacts? Business strategy implications? And/or take- aways for other contexts? –dematerialization –transport mode –consumer behavior (vs. delivered product)

carbon vs. energy impacts

Meat vs. Miles actual title (not my short-hand): Food-Miles and the Relative Climate Impacts of Food Choices in the United States analysis based on EIOLCA model punchline(s)? Big Question: What does the graph mean?

Meat vs. Miles sense of scale: food miles

a less horrible presentation of data?

Meat vs. Miles to start –make a list of the key points from Weber/Matthews –consider both detailed technical points and high-level talking points for friends and family I’ll present my set piece, then you add to it or critique it, then I’ll show you some equations

smart people saying not-so-smart things sense of scale: food miles

miles, yes…but big GHGs or not? sense of scale: food miles

meat vs. miles sense of scale: food miles

lessons from the food miles frenzy an indicator may seize attention for a while truth will, ultimately, be victorious our intuition might not always guide us well seek a sense of scale (eat less meat) caveats: –miles may matter (even if food-miles don’t) –these comparisons all take the average American diet as the reference point sense of scale: food miles

lessons from Weber and Matthews for CO 2 e, agricultural production is a bigger deal than the transport of agricultural goods highest-leverage actions (for CO 2 e reduction) is reduce meat servings (and, to a lesser extent, dairy) caveats –all of this is focused on life-cycle CO 2 e (seeing the world through “carbon goggles”) –based on average American diet Take your carbon goggles off. What other sustainability concerns are related to food? What other sustainability concerns are addressed by “local” food? sense of scale: food miles

Meat vs. Miles How do these numbers relate to each other? How might these equations differ for different categories? Or for particular products inside a single category? How do the final two sets of columns relate to each other? sense of scale: food miles

What does this sentence mean? “…Many of the analyses have used life-cycle energy use as the relevant measure of sustainability and thus have not included the substantial non-CO 2 greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture.” (page 1) energy vs. GHG emissions from food

What does this sentence mean? “…Many of the analyses have used life-cycle energy use as the relevant measure of sustainability and thus have not included the substantial non-CO 2 greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture.” (page 1) energy vs. GHG emissions from food

Meat vs. Miles best part: sets individual decisions in appropriate context another way to say it: Not paper or plastic, but what you put in the bag other context that would be helpful for the relevant “decision maker”? Source:

homework, 1 Seattle Climate Partnership calculator Clean Air-Cool Planet calculator TCR GRP – how to do calculations section University of Texas, GHG Inventory Person carbon footprint and climate action plan – DUE TUESDAY!

homework, 2 Extra Credit / Absence make-up opportunity: –April 22, Eugene City Club: “Curbing Climate Change, One Bite at a Time”. –Write a one-page (500 words maximum) reaction to any discussion item based on your understanding of Meat vs. Miles, other readings, and carbon goggles. –Recording will be available on klcc.org. –Due Thursday April 28 (before class begins). –Must be well written!

Feel free to contact me: Kelly Hoell (541) 341-GOOD (4663), ext. 217 Have a good weekend!