Greenhouse Challenge is an Australian co-operative venture between industry and government in which enterprises aim to achieve maximum greenhouse-gas abatement. At the same time they are recording and reporting greenhouse-gas emissions, and enhancing their business advantage.
The Australian Governments Greenhouse Challenge is a voluntary programme. It is based on co-operative agreements between Government and individual enterprises from all sectors of the economy, describing baseline and forecast emissions and planned abatement actions. Achievements are reported against the planned actions. The Challenge was launched in 1996, and we are now carrying out independent verification of the reports for the Australian Government, says Dawes.
The current verification programme aims to have a number of Challengers progress reports verified by this summer. DNVs role is to develop the process and manage the independent verification of the reported baseline inventory, annual emissions inventory, and the abatement actions undertaken by the companies taking part. DNV manages a process that will see self-reported emission inventories and reported abatement actions of up to 30 Challengers in the first year verified by a team of independent verifiers, explains Dawes. Selected from 13 major contenders, DNVs role is to manage the independent verification process, which includes the identification of verifiers, matching participating enterprises with agreed verifiers, and oversight of the verification process. The results of this first round will be reported by August 2000.
Designed to abate emissions
Enterprises join the Greenhouse Challenge to demonstrate their commitment to the abatement of greenhouse-gas emissions. Their early, voluntary action will ultimately help Australia meet its Kyoto targets. The programme is designed to abate greenhouse-gas emissions from all sectors of Australian industry, which account for about 55 per cent of the total, explains Dawes. The object is for enterprises to achieve maximum greenhouse-gas abatement, while enhancing their competitive business advantage.
Says Dawes, Hundreds of enterprises have joined, or have made commitments to join, the Challenge, and independent verification ensures they present a realistic forecast of emission inventories and abatement actions. Verification also enhances the credibility of the programme.
Successful verification of the Challenge will demonstrate that co-ordinated voluntary action to reduce greenhouse emissions is possible. It will also guide future international action to better manage climate change in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol. The Challenge can assist in the development of structures and processes to support national reporting and the Kyoto flexibility mechanisms sequestration, clean development, joint implementation and emissions trading, says Dawes.
As part of the Greenhouse Challenge agreements, all participants agreed that their reports will from time to time be subject to verification. Challengers will be randomly selected for future verification.
Another key role for DNV is to ensure that the latest international experience in the field is available to both participants and the programme management. DNV has wide practical experience in this field.
Westpac pilot Challenger
In 1998 four Challengers participated in a pilot independent verification programme, conducted by the Greenhouse Challenge. One of these was Westpac Banking Corporation, one of Australias four leading retail Banks. It has been a Challenger for the past four years. During this time it has reduced its annual greenhouse-gas emissions by some 26,000 tons, from over 190,000 tons C02 equivalant. The main areas of reduction were in large commercial properties: lighting control, high efficiency lighting replacement systems, variable speed drives, paper recycling, and control systems for air conditioning. The policy was implemented in more than 200 sites, together with a staff awareness programme.
The banks facilities management team has two members dedicated to the task, John Morrissey for energy and Larry McNab for environmental issues. They both agree that participation in an independent verification of their processes was beneficial. It compelled us to maintain our focus and provided a valuable insight into how best to streamline our efforts towards reduced emissions, says Morrissey.
International forum
In DNVs bid it was proposed that the Greenhouse Challenge verification programme should conclude with an international forum, in conjunction with the Australian Greenhouse Office, to review both international developments in the field and the performance of the programme. It will take place later this year.
As time goes by one country after another is initiating greenhouse-gas reduction projects to meet the Kyoto targets. Thus the Sydney forum is expected to attract worldwide attention.