Carbon Footprint - Implementation

Although the greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that allows the Earth to enjoy mild temperatures due to the presence of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, and natural climatic phenomena also influence climate variations, given the significant increase in greenhouse gas concentrations and the +0.6°C rise in the Earth's average temperature over the 20th century, there is every reason to believe that humans are responsible for these climate changes, as shown by the work of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

Following this awareness, the Rio Convention was held in 1992, with the aim of "stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system".

This makes the fight against climate change one of the major challenges of the 21st century. As a result, the Kyoto Protocol has been ratified, setting emission reduction targets and leading to the opening of a European emissions trading market, as well as the implementation of projects to reduce emissions. New European and French regulations have also seen the light of day, such as the obligation for certain private companies, public establishments and local authorities to draw up and publish a greenhouse gas emissions report, accompanied by an emissions reduction action plan.

With a view to raising awareness of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by our activities, ADEME (Agence de l'environnement et de la maîtrise de l'énergie) has developed a tool for accounting for the GHG emissions of activities carried out by companies (industrial or tertiary companies, associations, cultural or sporting events...), by local authorities or on a territorial basis. The Bilan Carbone methodology ^® is now managed by ABC (Association Bilan Carbone). If the emissions are directly emitted, they are referred to as "direct emissions"; if they are induced by the various activities, they are referred to as "indirect emissions".

The aim of this article is to present the Bilan Carbone ^® method, and to provide keys to its implementation, through the various stages of raising stakeholder awareness, collecting data once the scope of the study has been defined, carrying out a diagnosis of greenhouse gas emissions, and defining priorities for action, with a view to implementing the reduction actions identified.