ISO 14064-Greenhouse Gas Management
Is the climate becoming warmer and warmer?
According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earth’s surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. Human activities have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of greenhouse gases – primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. The heat-trapping property of these gases is undisputed although uncertainties exist about exactly how earth’s climate responds to them. (source: US-EPA)
There are many possible mechanisms that can cause the warming of the atmosphere, for example:
Natural variation – the climate becomes warmer by internal chaotic dynamics of the earth-atmosphere system (that is, no external influence).
Solar activity – either direct increase of solar energy output or indirect “trigger” mechanisms due to solar activity (though nobody knows how) may cause the surface temperature to go up.
Greenhouse effect – increasing “greenhouse” gases such as CO2, CH4, NO, CFC,…etc. (actually H2O is very efficient, too, but at present it is assumed to be in steady state).
Global warming.
Greenhouse gases are a group of compounds that are able to trap heat (long wave radiation) in the atmosphere, keeping the Earth’s surface warmer than it would be if they were not present. These gases are the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. Increases in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere enhances the greenhouse effect which is creating global warming and consequently climate change.
Carbon dioxide CO2, Methane CH4, Nitrous oxide N2O, Hydrofluorocarbons HFC, Perfluorocarbons PFC, Sulfur hexafluoride SF6, Nitrogen trifluoride NF3 and Hydrofluorinated ethers HFE
It is the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere annually by a person, household, building, organization, or company
ISO 14064 –Green House Gases standard comprises of three parts
Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals detailing specifications, guidance at the organizational and project levels and for GHG quantification, monitoring, reporting, validation and verification.
Part 2 : Specification with guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements.
Part 3 : Specification with guidance for the validation and verification of greenhouse gas assertions
Enhance environmental integrity by promoting consistency, transparency and credibility in GHG
quantification, monitoring, reporting and verification
Enable organizations to identify and manage GHG-related liabilities, assets and risks
Facilitate the trade of GHG allowances or credits
Support the design, development and implementation of comparable and consistent GHG schemes
or programmes.