Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases in the atmosphere that trap the sun’s heat, making the Earth warmer. This heat-trapping property is known as the greenhouse effect. GHGs include gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The greenhouse effect occurs naturally and is essential for life on Earth, keeping our planet warm enough to sustain life.
However, human activities such as deforestation and fossil fuel use have increased the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere. This enhanced greenhouse effect traps more of the sun’s radiation, leading to global warming. Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average temperature.
CORSIA, EOL, GCC, GS, and VCS are all schemes that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CORSIA focuses on international aviation, EoL promotes sustainable and ethical products, GCC is a carbon credit program based in the Global South, GS is a certification mark for emission reduction projects, and VCS certifies credible carbon credits.
Assurance of Environmental Reports, Quantification and Reporting of GHG Emissions and Removals at the Organization Level, and Quantification, Monitoring and Reporting of GHG Emission Reductions or Removal Enhancements at the Project Level are all about ensuring accurate and reliable reporting of environmental impacts and GHG emissions at various levels.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Water Footprint, and Carbon Footprint of Products are methodologies for assessing the environmental impacts of products or services throughout their life cycle, including the use of water and the emission of carbon dioxide.
These schemes collectively contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change by promoting sustainable practices and transparency in reporting environmental impacts. They provide frameworks for organizations to quantify, monitor, and report their environmental performance and to offset their carbon emissions. They also help consumers make informed choices about the products they buy.