There are different scopes to consider when it comes to the #carbonfootprint , and today we want to clear this up.
Where do carbon emissions come from?
They are classified into scopes based on their origin.
🔍 Scope 1: Direct emissions. These are greenhouse gases (GHG) released directly from a source someone controls or owns. An example everyone can relate to is the combustion of gasoline in their car.
🔍 Scope 2: Indirect emissions from energy consumption. This includes the purchase of heat, steam, cooling, and the most prominent example, electricity. While electricity itself doesn't emit gases on-site when used, its production can contribute to emissions. Therefore, depending on your electricity source, you might be consuming emissions even if you're not directly producing them.
🔍 Scope 3: Indirect emissions not covered in the previous scopes. Essentially an extension of scope 2, it encompasses a broader range of activities. For example, the purchase of a car falls under scope 3 emissions. Scope 3 emissions have often been overlooked in the past but are gaining increasing importance each day. For users, such as car buyers, it can be challenging to determine the emissions generated during the production of a car. This makes Scope 3 emissions the most difficult to measure.
Our next post will address a specific type of Scope 3 emissions that we can all become familiar with.
Reference: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
