KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
SUSTAINABILITY SEMINAR
January 6, 2010
WHY IS CARBON FOOTPRINTING IMPORTANT?
It’s the Critical First Step
In Developing Climate Protection Plans
or Strategies
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• Develop Baseline Inventory of GHG Emissions
[ Carbon Footprint ]
• Determine GHG Reduction Goals to be Achieved
• Identify Actions to Reduce GHG Emissions
• Implement GHG Reduction Measures
• Monitor and Assess Progress
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Carbon Footprinting Identifies
What Activities are Generating GHG Emissions
& How Much
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Baseline Inventory for GHG
Emissions from Government
Operations
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Source
from City of Kansas City Government Activities
120,000
Total Emissions =
319,795 metric tons of CO2
equivalent
2000 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Source
from City of Kansas City Government Activities
Diesel
3.4%
CNG
0.4%
Metric Tons CO2 Equivalent
100,000
Waste
0.2%
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
Gasoline
11.6%
-
Buildings
Vehicle Fleet
2000
Co-generation
3.0%
Natural Gas
6.9%
Employee
Commute
Streetlights
Water/Sewage
Waste
2005
Total Emissions = 319,795 metric tons
of CO2 equivalent
Electricity
74.5%
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Baseline Inventory for
Community-Wide GHG
Emissions
2000 Community Wide
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Source
Diesel
6.1%
2000 Community Wide
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector
for Kansas City, Missouri
4,000,000
Metric Tons CO2 Equivalent
3,500,000
Waste
1.4%
Cogeneration
0.6%
Natural Gas
14.6%
Electricity
46.7%
2000 Total Emissions =
9,569,764 metric tons of eCO2
Total Energy Emissions (2000) =
5,922,457 metric tons of eCO2
Gasoline
30.6%
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
Total Emissions (2000) =
9,569,764 metric tons of eCO2
1,000,000
500,000
-
Residential
Energy
Commercial
Energy
Industrial
Energy
2000
2005
Transportation
Waste
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Carbon Footprinting Can Quantify
Expected GHG Emissions from Various Strategies
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Carbon Footprinting Helps to Identify & Prioritize
Actions to Focus GHG Reduction Efforts to Achieve
Specific Goals:
• Lowest Cost Reductions
• Highest GHG Reduction Impact
• Cost-Effectiveness (i.e. GHG Reductions per
Unit Cost)
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Carbon Footprinting Can Also Identify Impacts of
Actions Already Initiated for Reasons Other than
Reduction of GHG Emissions
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What If It’s a Hoax?
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GHG Reduction Strategies Can Have Many Other Impacts:
• Cost Savings
• Improved Air Quality
• Improved Housing
• Better Access to Public Transportation
• Reduced Dependence on Imported Petroleum
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Carbon Footprinting Enables the Measurement of
Progress, Monitoring Performance, and Making
Adjustments if Anticipated GHG Reduction Goals
are not Being Achieved
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Carbon Footprinting Will Help You to Discover
Connections Between Activities Previously
Thought to be Unrelated
( e.g. Water and Energy )
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So, to Accommodate Those Who Believe
Anthropogenic Climate Change is a Big Hoax,
Our New Motto is
“Creating a Better World, for No Reason at All.”
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