WHAT'S YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT? Knowing an Operation's Carbon Footprint Helps Establish a Baseline for GHG Reductions

摘要

Greenhouse gas emissions obviously are receiving considerable attention largely because of their reported contribution to global climate change. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that effective Jan. 1, 2010, for the first time, it will require large emitters of "heat-trapping emissions" to begin collecting greenhouse gas (GHG) data under a new reporting system. The EPA said this new program will cover approximately 85% of the nation's GHG emissions and apply to roughly 10,000 facilities. Fossil fuel and industrial GHG suppliers, motor vehicle and engine manufacturers, and facilities that emit 27,558 tons (25,000 tonnes) or more of carbon dioxide (CO_2) or its equivalent per year will be required to report GHG emissions data to EPA annually. The first annual reports for the largest emitting facilities, covering calendar year 2010, will be submitted to EPA in 2011.