Eco NW - Tools & methods
Modeling, analysis, visualization and data sources
Methods
At present, UK / regional climate emissions (mainly CO2) accounts are drawn up as per the Kyoto convention, in terms of direct emissions within that region, or directly allocated emissions such as grid electricity. The problem with this method is that it may hide more than it shows - for instance if our region shuts down its steel mills and imports its steel from overseas, this shows up as an improvement, while in reality it can be the opposite. Hence the logic in the 'consumer responsibility' approach as followed by the eco-footprint (EFA) method.
The REAP system of accounting opens up the possibility of a more meaningful and comprehensive analysis of global impacts from both production and consumption. The different layers of this can be seen in the diagram:
- The 'internal' UK emissions accounts at present include only emissions from energy conversion within the UK borders, as specified by the Kyoto protocol and its accounting conventions
- 'Indirect' UK emissions are put through the input-output model in order to track upstream effects: for instance, where office activity can be 10 times more carbon intensive than its direct effects would show
- An 'extended' account includes for aviation and international shipping to and from the UK, which are the fastest growing emissions sources
- An 'embodied' account tracks the goods and products, produced overseas and consumed in the UK. This is the logic of the full 'consumption' based approach of the EFA
- An 'induced' account aims to measure the ultimate environmental and social damage, in terms of deforestation, desertification etc
