OUR RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH STANDARDS

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OUR RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH STANDARDS
BY VANIDA LENNON
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INTRODUCTION

• Uncertainties certainly exist about future trends
  as a result of climate change. But the
  certainties and near certainties are equally
  important. Today the scientific community agrees
  on three key points
• The earth is warming
• The primary cause of this warming is fossil fuel
  consumption
• If we dont act now to reduce emissions, this
  problem will only get worse.

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What are core functions of SABS

• According to the Standards Act, (Act 8, 2008) The
  objects of the SABS are to
• Develop, promote and maintain South African
  National Standards
• Promote quality in connection with commodities,
  products and services and
• Render conformity assessment services and
  matters connected therewith.

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Essence of Standards and Standardization

1. improve the quality of life in society through
   enhanced awareness on safety issues, maintenance
   of societal health and environmental
   preservations.
2. improve the quality of South African products,
   services and processes of production.
3. ensure the efficient utilization of existing
   resources through better and improved
   communication.

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GAPS IN GOVERNMENT RESPONSE CLIMATE CHANGE

• Climate change policies
• Climate change is now a mainstream political
  issue. However, there is no yet substantive
  framework for policy which offers coherence and
  consistency as to how national governments should
  cope with the long-term political challenges of
  climate change.
• Presently, the public discussion on climate
  change tends to be partial and disparate.
• Loosely connected debates hinge on

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GAPS IN GOVERNMENT RESPONSE CLIMATE CHANGE -
cont

• Evidence that climate change is occurring and
  estimates of its potential impacts
• The prospects for agreeing on an international
  framework for an economic response to, for
  instance, carbon trading
• futurology surrounding the potential for
  technological innovation that could solve the
  problem.
• Such a debate is often limited in scope and is
  too compartmentalised. In order to come to terms
  with urgent need for mitigation and adaptation, a
  broad policy perspective is required because the
  impact of climate change challenges every corner
  of the 21st century state.

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COMMON THEMES AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

• Clear and consistent policy signals are urgently
  needed
• Both broad (economy-wide) and technology-specific
  policies are essential
• There is a need to balance policy flexibility
  with reasonable policy certainty
• A sustained carbon price signal through policies
  such as cap and trade or carbon taxes might be
  the most important cross-cutting policy driver
• Mandatory GHG emission reporting might be an
  essential tool for identifying and stimulating
  reductions

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COMMON THEMES AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

• A portfolio of technologies will be needed to
  drive the absolute reductions of GHG emissions
  necessary to address climate change
• No single technology or policy will be sufficient
  to enable low carbon future
• All technologies studied so far have the
  potential, but revamped research, development and
  deployment (RDD) is necessary in all of them
• Energy efficiency will provide the greatest
  opportunity in the near term and will remain
  important over the long term as well
• While specific technologies are likely to be
  important players, it is important to avoid the
  temptation to pick winners

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COMMON THEMES AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

• A low-carbon technology revolution will require
  both leadership and broad engagement throughout
  society
• Policies should address climate change in the
  context of other societal goals (e.g., clean air,
  energy security) taking advantage of creating
  public/private partnerships
• Clear and unambiguous target set by corporate
  leaders and governments can have a significant
  positive effect on achieving GHG reductions
• Greater focus is needed on critical energy
  challenges, both in terms of resources and
  innovative technology

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COMMON THEMES AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

• It is essential to start now
• It is imperative to begin now with clear
  statements of policy and both cross-cutting and
  technology specific policies and investments in
  order to transit to a low-carbon economy

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TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES

• Energy Efficiency
• Energy conservation and environmental protection
  are keys to sustainability. The drive for
  improved energy efficiency and renewable energy
  sources needs to be addressed by globally
  accepted standards.

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TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES cont.

• The technological potential for energy efficiency
  improvements now and in the future is
  significant, yet this potential is not likely to
  be realized through market forces alone. We need
  policies that address the technical, cost, and
  societal hurdles facing widespread improvements
  in energy efficiency. In addition to price
  signals and reporting, certain standards,
  incentives, and RDD programs can increase the
  use of efficient technologies. These options
  include
• Adoption and promotion of codes and standards
  focused on maximizing GHG reductions (e.g., for
  buildings, vehicles and appliances)
• Increase in public RDD in innovative energy
  efficiency technologies and
• Incentives for the private and public procurement
  of highly efficient technologies

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TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES

• Hydrogen in transportation
• Specific policies are needed to address the major
  challenges to hydrogen becoming the low-carbon
  transportation fuel of the future. Near-term
  policy options to enable future widespread
  deployment of hydrogen and other potentially
  low-carbon transportation technologies include
• Continued and increased state support for
  hydrogen-related RD in targeted areas (e.g.,
  low-carbon hydrogen production, storage, and fuel
  cells)
• National and international harmonization of
  hydrogen codes and standards
• Incentives to increase the development and
  deployment of lower-GHG transportation
  technologies (e.g., hybrids), many of which are
  part of an evolutionary path toward the use of
  fuel cells and
• Increased consumer and public education regarding
  transportation, energy use, and GHG emissions.

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TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES

• Carbon sequestration/Coal gasification
• In order to answer critical RD questions and to
  commercialize carbon capture and storage (CCS),
  significant effort must be made over the next 10
  to 15 years. Near-term steps include
• A coordinated international effort to deploy coal
  gasification with CCS through trial projects that
  focus on technical issues
• Establishment of carbon sequestration trial
  projects to validate integrity of geologic
  storage
• Beginning to establish regulatory framework for
  underground carbon dioxide (CO2 ) storage
• Establishing frameworks to encourage improved
  farm and forest management that enhance carbon
  storage (i.e., sinks)

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TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES

• Renewables
• Despite significant potential for growth of
  renewables, these resources currently only
  provide a small fraction of commercial energy.
  Closing the gap between the current low level of
  renewables deployment and their high potential
  will require significant and sustained policies.
  Near-term policy options include
• Establishment of a national Renewable Portfolio
  Standard with set-asides for specific generation
  technologies and tradable renewable energy
  credits
• A major RDD effort by DoE focused on the use of
  renewables beyond niche markets
• National test beds for new electricity grid
  systems that enable a broader set of power supply
  options, including intermittent and distributed
  energy and combined heat and power

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TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES

• Renewables
• Increased research on expanding energy storage
  options
• Pollution fees for polluting energy sources and
• Continued and consistent support (e.g., through
  tax credits) to help renewables become
  competitive with fossil fuels for electricity
  generation.

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TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES

• Renewable energy candidates
• Solar energy
• Biomass energy
• Hydro electricity
• Biogas energy
• Wind energy
• Ocean energy
• Standards should take end use devices into
  account, and consider their integration with
  auxiliary energy sources.
• Standards are also needed for the installation,
  inspection and maintenance of renewable systems
  to enhance consumer access and confidence in
  renewable technology

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TECHNOLOGY-SPECIFIC POLICIES

• Advanced Nuclear power generation
• The ability of nuclear power to play a
  significant role in reducing GHG emissions over
  the next half century depends upon what happens
  in the next 10 to 15 years. The question is
  whether, in that time frame, the nuclear industry
  can overcome serious obstacles, including
  economic concerns, waste, and safety. Near-term
  policy options
• Electricity production tax credits for first
  mover nuclear plants
• Public dialogue and education regarding the costs
  and benefits of nuclear power, especially in the
  context of climate change.

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THE ROLE OF SABS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• MAIN FOCUS
• The world is challenged by a changing climate,
  loss of biodiversity, abject poverty and
  environmental degradation.
• WHAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
• Good ideas, creativity, passion, innovation and
  the application of standards in order to achieve
  - in a consistent manner positive change.

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STANDARDS A SOLUTION TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES

• STANDARDS IN A CHANGING CLIMATE
• Means to ensure that our actions lead to a
  better quality of life and a safer evolution of
  human kind.
• Key tools in influencing sustainability.
• Provide avenues toward improved environmental
  performance
• Make a valuable contribution to environmental
  protection (Applicable standard ARP 720, Guide
  for addressing environmental issues in product
  standards
• Standards ensure that our products meet the
  highest environmental standards
• Standards help Government in regulating the
  behaviour of producers in order to protect
  consumers. Regulation is there to protect the
  public interest against the undesirable outcomes
  from unregulated markets.

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STANDARDS A SOLUTION TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES

• Standards are vital towards Energy security
  Oil, coal and natural gas are expected to
  dominate energy supply for decades to come.
  Climate policy must recognize the role these
  critical energy sources play to ensure security
  of supply
• Standards are central to conservation Energy
  efficiency and conservation are the most
  immediate and costeffective sources of "new"
  energy with no GHG emissions. Government programs
  to promote energy efficiency and conservation
  must continue and should be enhanced.
• Standards ensure broad equitable treatment
  Broad and equitable treatment of all sectors of
  the economy is necessary to ensure no sector or
  company is disproportionately burdened.
• Standards enable technology Emerging technology
  and as-yet-unknown technological breakthroughs
  have the potential to significantly reduce GHG
  emissions if they can be developed to commercial
  scale

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STANDARDS A SOLUTION TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES

• Standards encourages transparency The costs,
  risks, trade-offs and uncertainties associated
  with climate policies must be openly
  communicated.
• Renewable electricity standards can positively
  impact the climate by reducing the amount of
  electricity generated from coal, and thus the
  total amount of emissions generated from the
  power sector.
• Secondary benefits of standards include reduced
  reliance on foreign sources of oil and gas (which
  comprise approximately 20 percent of electricity
  generation), stability in the supply and cost of
  electricity, and the creation of high-tech
  green jobs

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PUBLISHED STANDARDS

• The SANS/ISO 14064 standards provide government
  and industry with an integrated set of tools for
  programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas
  emissions, as well as for emissions trading.
• SANS/ISO 14064 comprises three standards,
  respectively detailing specifications and
  guidance for the organisational and project
  levels, and for validation and verification.

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SANS/ISO 14064

• ISO 14064 part 1 Greenhouse gases
  specification with guidance at the organization
  level for quantification and reporting of
  greenhouse gas emissions and removals.
• ISO 14064 part 2 Greenhouse gases
  specification with guidance at the project level
  for quantification, monitoring and reporting of
  greenhouse gas emissions reductions and removal
  enhancements.
• ISO 14064 part 3 Greenhouse gases
  specification with guidance for the validation
  and verification of greenhouse gas assertions.

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Requirements of the applicable GHG programs or
intended user

• Application of SANS/ISO14001 together with the
  SANS/ISO14064 standards can provide an excellent
  framework for effective environmental management
  addressing the GHG impacts of an organisation.
• GHG emission sources should be considered as
  significant aspects within environmental policies
  because of their impact on the environment.
  SANS/ISO 14064 provides tools for effective
  measurement of these impacts and SANS/ISO14001 an
  effective management system to initiate and
  progress improvement or containment actions.

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Implementing ISO 14064 is intended to achieve the
following benefits

• Promote consistency, transparency and credibility
  in GHG quantification, monitoring, reporting and
  verification
• Enable organisations to identify and manage
  GHG-related liabilities, assets and risks
• Facilitate the trade of GHG allowances or
  credits, and
• Support the design, development and
  implementation of comparable and consistent GHG
  schemes or programs.

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SANS/ISO 14065

• SANS/ISO 14065 Greenhouse gases specification
  for greenhouse gas validation and verification
  bodies for use in accreditation and other forms
  of recognition.
• ISO 14065 recognizes that a number of GHG
  programs are being used in various jurisdictions,
  underscoring the need for a clear and consistent
  approach.
• Expressly designed as flexible tools for use in
  voluntary or regulatory schemes, ISO 14064 and
  ISO 14065 assist organizations in managing
  GHG-related opportunities and risks, and support
  the environmental integrity of GHG claims.

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The objectives of the ISO 14064 and ISO 14065
standards include

• Developing flexible, regime-neutral tools for use
  in voluntary or regulatory GHG schemes.
• Promoting and harmonizing best practices.
• Supporting the environmental integrity of GHG
  assertions.
• Assisting organizations to manage GHG-related
  opportunities and risks.
• Supporting the development of GHG programs and
  markets.

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SABS RESPONSE TO EE INITIATIVES

• RESPONSES

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CONCLUSIONS

• There are many national and international
  standards which provide the necessary tools to
  help businesses continually improve their
  sustainability performance
• One of those tools is ARP 720, Guide for
  addressing environmental issues in product
  standards
• Building on the well known SANS/ISO 14001,
  Environmental management systems, SABS is now
  developing SANS/ISO 50001, Energy management
  systems Requirements with guidance for use, a
  standard which holds great cost and
  energy-cutting potential for businesses in
  developed and developing countries
• Carbon management will remain a key pressure on
  business throughout the recession, and to assist
  with this SABS TC 207, Environmental management,
  is currently working on carbon footprint
  quantification.

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Conclusions - cont

• Across the board, standards provide the extra
  cost saving, the new customer, the new innovation
  with a range of benefits that can make all the
  difference between sink and swim
• Finally, when times are tough it is natural to
  look for easy savings, but the cost of using
  environmental and sustainability standards can be
  offset against the long-term financial gains.