Qualiexpert

Our November/December newsletter deals with a subject that has been very intense at Qualiexpert this year: greenhouse gas reporting.

In conversations with clients and partners, we realized something important: for many, this topic still seems distant, almost a foreign territory. But it shouldn't be that way. That's why we've put together this newsletter for everyone who is at the beginning of their journey and needs support.

And for those who are more advanced, we've simplified some parts without giving up the science.

1 - We are not connected to nature. We are nature.

We breathe in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Plants do the opposite: in photosynthesis they use carbon dioxide and release oxygen. We breathe in oxygen from plants. This cycle allows life to happen.

We are one species out of the thousands that exist on Planet Earth, yet we are the species that most destroys the environment (water, soil, flora, fauna). Our unbridled consumption requires natural resources to be met and planet Earth has limited fresh water and natural resources.

Recognizing that we are part of nature also means being responsible for it.

Support video: Conservation International

2 - The terms “greenhouse effect” and “greenhouse gas” are different.

The term “greenhouse effect” refers to the natural process of our planet Earth. It keeps the planet warm so that life can flourish; without it, the Earth's surface would freeze. The planet receives energy from the Sun and returns some of this heat to space, while a thin layer of gases retains some of this energy, balancing the temperature.

Greenhouse gases“ are those that intensify this process. They have been recognized in international agreements as the main culprits of global warming. These include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

These “greenhouse gases” arise in various ways, such as when we use fossil fuel equipment in our daily lives (e.g. gasoline, LPG, acetylene, diesel); when we consume refrigerant gases to keep air conditioners efficient and during agricultural processes.

Once emitted, these “greenhouse gases” spread around the planet like sugar dissolving in water. They circulate and remain in the atmosphere for decades. And by staying, they retain more heat than the planet can give back to space.

It's as if we were gradually reinforcing the blanket that surrounds the Earth.

Support video: Nasa

3 - The relationship between “greenhouse gas emissions” and “climate change”.

The science is clear: the more greenhouse gases we emit, the warmer the planet gets.

While “global warming” is the increase in the Earth's average temperature due to the excess of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, “climate change” is the consequence and is already present among us (rains, floods, droughts).

Support video: Real World Visuals

4 - Mathematics and chemistry are operational subjects for the subject.

Mathematics is important, because we need to transform everyday data into emission figures that represent impact and forms of critical analysis.

We'll be using math a lot, because we have 2 tools: “emission factors” (which convert the fuel into the 6 types of greenhouse gas) and the “global warming potential” of that gas (Example: methane warms the atmosphere about 28 times more than carbon dioxide).

The “emission factors” and the “global warming potential” are defined and provided by reference institutions, and your role is simply to apply them correctly in the calculations.

5 - If you work with management systems, implementing ISO 14001 is an excellent start.

The ISO 14001 standard requires us to evaluate our environmental aspects (activities that influence the environment) and their environmental impacts (consequences of the aspects for the environment).

It is in this exercise of reflection that we identify our “processes” relate to emissions and global warming; and “processes” is a common term for Quality Management.

As an addition, ISO recently included climate change for the analysis of chapter 4 - context of the organization, remember?

6 - Science is always on the move, but the foundation is essential.

Some documents are indispensable for anyone who wants to understand the subject:

• ISO 14001:2015, chapter 6 on environmental aspects and impacts;
• Documents from the ISO 14064 family, mainly Part 1, which states the requirements for how to prepare a greenhouse gas report.
• Documentation is available on the website of the Brazilian Greenhouse Gas Protocol (the institution that supports with guidelines and the mathematical part of the calculations).

7 - Don't trust free online calculators

They are excellent for raising awareness of the issue, but for an auditable and certified report, all the mathematics used must be transparent, traceable and available, and generally these online tools don't provide this.

8 - There's no point in starting without leadership support.

This topic requires time, organization, financial resources and a lot of patience. Without leadership support to implement and develop it, it's better not to start 🙂

That's why Leadership is one of the initial chapters of the ISO standards and a Quality principle.

Conclusion

The subject can be really complex and complicated, but by understanding the fundamentals, we believe you will see solid results and realize that our planet Earth is our common home.

We're with you on this journey! Study and read a lot, so that we can make sure we're doing our part on the subject.

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