context: The PRC will soon establish a unified and standardised carbon footprint management system, as per an Implementation Plan issued 4 Jun by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and 15 other central agencies. Full life-cycle accounting rules and standards for key products were previously mentioned in State Council’s ‘Action plan for carbon peaking before 2030’.
Carbon footprint management should not just emphasise quantity, but also its practical role, argues Shi Minjun 石敏俊 Zhejiang University Centre for Research on Urban Development and Low-Carbon Strategies director.
Some products will begin management first due to urgent demand, but whether it is 100 or 200 products, what matters is whether carbon footprint management can help achieve sustainable development goals, he adds.
Assessment still faces several challenges, believes Shi, including
- basic data
- basic data is still lacking, affecting our understanding of China’s CO2 emissions
- assessment of product carbon footprints should take into account regional and individual differences
- the same product produced in different regions can have a significantly different carbon footprint
- whether to factor in differences between individual firms or set a unified standard needs further research and discussion
- technical issues
- how to accurately calculate the carbon emissions factor of alternative energy
- the EUs CBAM (carbon border adjustment mechanism) may only recognise directly supplied renewable energy, rather than average energy consumption on the grid
- this can lead to overestimating emissions for firms based in regions rich in solar and wind, such as Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Gansu
- the EUs CBAM (carbon border adjustment mechanism) may only recognise directly supplied renewable energy, rather than average energy consumption on the grid
- scope of carbon footprint assessment is usually divided into three parts, increasing complexity
- assessment of scope 3 indirect emissions are particularly challenging as it involves the source of product raw materials, upstream supply chains and downstream distribution
- how to accurately calculate the carbon emissions factor of alternative energy
- energy consumption and carbon emissions of raw materials may vary depending on the source
- emissions from electricity need to be considered, especially the difference between directly supplied energy and average energy of the power grid
However, the overall advancement of carbon footprint management will stimulate policy and technological innovation, says Shi. This will help Chinese firms improve their competitiveness and adaptability in international markets.