KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITYSUSTAINABILITY SEMINARSUSTAINABILITY SEMINAR

January 6, 2010

WHY IS CARBON FOOTPRINTING IMPORTANT?WHY IS CARBON FOOTPRINTING IMPORTANT?

It’s the Critical First StepIn Developing Climate Protection PlansIn Developing Climate Protection Plans

or Strategies

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• Develop Baseline Inventory of GHG Emissions [ Carbon Footprint ][ Carbon Footprint ]

• Determine GHG Reduction Goals to be Achieved• Identify Actions to Reduce GHG Emissions• Identify Actions to Reduce GHG Emissions

• Implement GHG Reduction Measures• Monitor and Assess Progress• Monitor and Assess Progress

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Carbon Footprinting IdentifiesWhat Activities are Generating GHG EmissionsWhat Activities are Generating GHG Emissions

& How Much

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Baseline Inventory for GHG yEmissions from Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Source p

100,000

120,000

t

from City of Kansas City Government Activities

Total Emissions = 319,795 metric tons of CO2

2000 Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sourcefrom City of Kansas City Government Activities

40 000

60,000

80,000

c To

ns C

O2

Equi

vale

nt

2equivalent

Diesel3.4%

CNG0.4%

Waste0.2%

Gasoline11.6%

-

20,000

40,000

Met

ric

Buildings Vehicle Fleet Employee Streetlights Water/Sewage Waste

Co-generation3.0%

Natural Gas6.9%

Total Emissions = 319,795 metric tons of CO equivalent

Commute

2000 2005

Electricity74.5%

of CO2 equivalent

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Baseline Inventory for yCommunity-Wide GHG Emissions

2000 Community Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Source

Cogeneration0.6%

Waste1.4%

Diesel6 1%

2000 Community Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector

for Kansas City Missouri

Natural Gas14.6%

Electricity

6.1%

3,500,000

4,000,000

for Kansas City, Missouri Electricity46.7%

Gasoline

2000 Total Emissions = 9,569,764 metric tons of eCO2Total Energy Emissions (2000) =

5,922,457 metric tons of eCO2

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

Tons

CO

2 Equ

ival

ent Gasoline

30.6%

-

500,000

1,000,000Met

ric

ResidentialEnergy

CommercialEnergy

IndustrialEnergy

Transportation Waste

Total Emissions (2000) = 9,569,764 metric tons of eCO2

Energy Energy Energy

2000 20056

Carbon Footprinting Can Quantifyg yExpected GHG Emissions from Various Strategies

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Carbon Footprinting Helps to Identify & Prioritize Actions to Focus GHG Reduction Efforts to AchieveActions to Focus GHG Reduction Efforts to Achieve

Specific Goals:• Lowest Cost Reductions• Lowest Cost Reductions

• Highest GHG Reduction Impact• Cost Effectiveness (i e GHG Reductions per• 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 thanActions 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 Air Quality• Improved Housing

• Better Access to Public TransportationBetter 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 BelieveSo, to Accommodate Those Who Believe Anthropogenic Climate Change is a Big Hoax,

Our New Motto isOur New Motto is

“Creating a Better World for No Reason at All ”Creating a Better World, for No Reason at All.

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