scholarly journals An open-source tool to assess the carbon footprint of research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérôme Mariette ◽  
Odile Blanchard ◽  
Olivier Berné ◽  
Tamara Ben-Ari
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Carbon Footprints ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Ghg Reduction

AbstractResearch institutions are bound to contribute to greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction efforts for several reasons. First, part of the scientific community’s research deals with climate change issues. Second, scientists contribute to students’ education : they must be consistent and role models. Third the literature on the carbon footprint of researchers points to the high level of some individual footprints. In a quest for consistency and role models, scientists, teams of scientists or universities have started to quantify their carbon footprints and debate on reduction options. Indeed, measuring the carbon footprint of research activities requires tools designed to tackle its specific features. In this paper, we present an open-source web application, GES 1point5, developed by an interdisciplinary team of scientists from several research labs in France. GES 1point5 is specifically designed to estimate the carbon footprint of research activities in France. It operates at the scale of research labs, i.e., laboratoires, which are the social structures around which research is organized in France and the smallest decision making entities in the French research system. The application allows French research labs to compute their own carbon footprint along a standardized, open protocol. The data collected in a rapidly growing network of labs will be used as part of the Labos 1point5 project to estimate France’s research carbon footprint. At the time of submitting this manuscript, 89 research labs had engaged with GES 1point5 to estimate their greenhouse gas emissions. We expect that an international adoption of GES 1point5 (adapted to fit domestic specifics) could contribute to establishing a global understanding of the drivers of the research carbon footprint worldwide and the levers to decrease it.Availability and implementationGES 1point5 is available online for French research labs at http://labos1point5.org/ges-1point5 and source code can be downloaded from the GitLab platform at https://framagit.org/labos1point5/l1p5-vuejs.

scholarly journals Study of the viticultural technical itineraries carbon footprint at fine scale

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 01030
Author(s):  
E. Adoir ◽  
S. Penavayre ◽  
T. Petitjean ◽  
L. De Rességuier
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Life Cycle Approach ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Carbon Footprints ◽  
Life Project ◽  
One Year

Viticulture faces two challenges regarding climate change: adapting and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Are these two challenges compatible? This is one of the questions to which Adviclim project (Life project, 2014–2019) provided tools and answers. The assessment of greenhouse gas emissions was implemented at the scale of the plot using a life cycle approach: calculating the carbon footprint. This approach makes it possible to take into account the emissions generated during each stage of the life cycle of a product or a service: in this case, the cultivation of one hectare of vine for one year. Carbon footprint was assessed for the 5 pilot sites of the Adviclim project: Saint-Emilion (France), Coteaux du Layon/Samur (France), Geisenheim (Germany), Cotnari (Romania) and Plompton (United Kingdom). An important work for primary data collection regarding observed practices was carried out with a sample of reresentative farms for these 5 sites, and for one to three vintages depending on the site. Beyond the question asked in the project, the calculation of these carbon footprints made it possible to (i) make winegrowers aware of the life cycle approach and the share of direct emissions generated by viticulture, (ii) acquire new references on the technical itineraries and their associated emissions, (iii) improve the adaptation of the methodology for calculating the carbon footprint to viticulture.

Carbon Footprint Analysis of an Educational Institution

2015 ◽  
Vol 787 ◽  
pp. 187-191
Author(s):  
P.M. Sivaram ◽  
N. Gowdhaman ◽  
D.Y. Ebin Davis ◽  
M. Subramanian
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Liquefied Petroleum Gas ◽  
Diesel Generator ◽  
Working Paper ◽  
Corporate Carbon Footprint ◽  
The Impact

Global warming and climate change are the foremost environmental challenges facing the world today. It is our responsibility to minimize the consumption of energy and hence reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. Companies choose ‘Carbon Footprint’ as a tool to calculate the greenhouse gas emission to show the impact of their activities on the environment. In this working paper, we assess the carbon foot print of an educational institution and suggest suitable measures for reducing it. Greenhouse gas emitting protocol for an academic institution in terms of tones of equivalent CO2 per year is projected using three basic steps includes planning (assessment of data’s), calculation and estimation of CO2 emitted. The estimation of carbon foot print is calculated by accounting direct emission from sources owned/controlled by the educational institution and from indirect emission i.e. purchased electricity, electricity produced by diesel Generator (DG), transport, cooking (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and other outsourced distribution. The CO2 absorbed by trees are also accounted. Some of the options are identified in order to reduce CO2 level. The information of corporate carbon footprint helps us identifying the Green House Gases (GHG) emission “hot spots” and identifies where the greatest capacity exists in order to reduce the GHG emissions. The main prioritization goes to transport and then followed by DG, cooking and then electricity. The per capita CO2 emission and the total CO2 emission for a typical educational institution are estimated.

scholarly journals Covidex: an ultrafast and accurate tool for virus subtyping

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Cacciabue ◽  
Pablo Aguilera ◽  
María Inés Gismondi ◽  
Oscar Taboga
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Classification Models ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Shiny App ◽  
Cross Platform ◽  
Model Generator ◽  
Free Machine ◽  
Subtyping Tool

SummaryCovidex is an open-source, alignment-free machine learning subtyping tool for viral species. It is a shiny app that allows a fast and accurate classification in pre-defined clusters for SARS-CoV-2 and FMDV genome sequences. The user can also build its own classification models with the Covidex model generator.AvailabilityCovidex is open-source, cross-platform compatible, and is available under the terms of the GNU General Public License v3 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.txt). Covidex is available via SourceForge https://sourceforge.net/projects/covidex or the web application https://cacciabue.shinyapps.io/shiny2/[email protected]; [email protected]

scholarly journals Net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from feed additive use in California dairy cattle

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyu Feng ◽  
Ermias Kebreab
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Feed Additives ◽  
Feed Additive ◽  
Dairy Production ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Enteric Methane

AbstractThe livestock industry is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and there is an increasing demand for the industry to reduce its carbon footprint. Several studies have shown that feed additives 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate to be effective in reducing enteric methane emissions. The objective of this study was to estimate the net mitigating effect of using 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate on total greenhouse gas emissions in California dairy industry. A life cycle assessment approach was used to conduct a cradle-to-farm gate environmental impact analysis based on dairy production system in California. Emissions associated with crop production, feed additive production, enteric methane, farm management, and manure storage were calculated and expressed as kg CO2 equivalents (CO2e) per kg of energy corrected milk. The total greenhouse gas emissions from baseline, two 3-nitroxypropanol and three nitrate scenarios were 1.12, 0.993, 0.991, 1.08, 1.07, and 1.09 kg CO2e/kg energy corrected milk. The average net reduction rates for 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate were 11.7% and 3.95%, respectively. In both cases, using the feed additives on the whole herd slightly improved overall carbon footprint reduction compared to limiting its use during lactation phase. Although both 3-nitroxypropanol and nitrate had effects on decreasing the total greenhouse gas emission, the former was much more effective with no known safety issues in reducing the carbon footprint of dairy production in California.

scholarly journals Reducing the Carbon Footprint: Primary Production of Aluminum and Silicon with Changing Energy Systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gudrun Saevarsdottir ◽  
Thordur Magnusson ◽  
Halvor Kvande
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Industrial Processes ◽  
Main Trend ◽  
Aluminum Production ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Carbon Footprints ◽  
Silicon Production

AbstractThe world now pushes for a low-carbon future, and international goals for greenhouse gas emission reductions have been set. Industrial processes, including metallurgical processes, make up more than a fifth of the total global emissions, and those have been rising with infrastructure development and the expansion of the middle-class worldwide. This paper focuses on two energy-intensive processes, aluminum production and metallurgical grade silicon production, and how the carbon footprints from these industrial processes have developed in recent decades. The main trend is that the increased demand for these metals has led to expanding primary production for both of them, based on energy with an increasing share of fossil-based electric power. In fact, the average carbon footprint of the energy used in aluminum and silicon production has increased by 38% and 43%, respectively, from 2000 to 2019. The change in energy mix offsets any progress in process efficiencies. This work addresses this and discusses opportunities for improvements. Graphical Abstract

scholarly journals Reducing carbon footprint of inhalers: analysis of climate and clinical implications of different scenarios in five European countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e001071
Author(s):  
Daniele Pernigotti ◽  
Carol Stonham ◽  
Sara Panigone ◽  
Federica Sandri ◽  
Rossella Ferri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Emission Reductions ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Scenario Analyses

BackgroundInhaled therapies are key components of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatments. Although the use of pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) accounts for <0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, their contribution to global warming has been debated and efforts are underway to reduce the carbon footprint of pMDIs. Our aim was to establish the extent to which different scenarios led to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions associated with inhaler use, and their clinical implications.MethodsWe conducted a series of scenario analyses using asthma and COPD inhaler usage data from 2019 to model carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions reductions over a 10-year period (2020–2030) in the UK, Italy, France, Germany and Spain: switching propellant-driven pMDIs for propellant-free dry-powder inhalers (DPIs)/soft mist inhalers (SMIs); transitioning to low global warming potential (GWP) propellant (hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)-152a) pMDIs; reducing short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) use; and inhaler recycling.ResultsTransition to low-GWP pMDIs and forced switching to DPI/SMIs (excluding SABA inhalers) would reduce annual CO2e emissions by 68%–84% and 64%–71%, respectively, but with different clinical implications. Emission reductions would be greatest (82%–89%) with transition of both maintenance and SABA inhalers to low-GWP propellant. Only minimising SABA inhaler use would reduce CO2e emissions by 17%–48%. Although significant greenhouse gas emission reductions would be achieved with high rates of end-of-life recycling (81%–87% of the inhalers), transition to a low-GWP propellant would still result in greater reductions.ConclusionsWhile the absolute contribution of pMDIs to global warming is very small, substantial reductions in the carbon footprint of pMDIs can be achieved with transition to low-GWP propellant (HFA-152a) inhalers. This approach outperforms the substitution of pMDIs with DPI/SMIs while preserving patient access and choice, which are essential for optimising treatment and outcomes. These findings require confirmation in independent studies.

Greenhouse gas emission reductions in subtropical cereal-based cropping sequences using legumes, DMPP-coated urea and split timings of urea application

Soil Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme D. Schwenke ◽  
Philippa M. Brock ◽  
Bruce M. Haigh ◽  
David F. Herridge
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitor ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
Ghg Reduction ◽  
Coated Urea ◽  
On Farm

To contribute to national greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction targets, grain growers need strategies that minimise emissions associated with grain production. We used life cycle assessments (LCAs) with field-measured production inputs, grain yields and proteins, legume nitrogen (N2) fixation, and soil nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions, to explore mitigation strategies in 3-year crop sequences in subtropical Australia. The sequences were: canola plus 80 kg/ha fertiliser nitrogen (80N)–wheat 85N–barley 65N (CaNWtNBaN), chickpea 0N–wheat 85N–barley 5N (CpWtNBa), chickpea 0N–wheat 5N–chickpea 5N (CpWtCp), and chickpea 0N–sorghum 45N (CpSgN). We also assessed the impacts of split fertiliser N application and urea coated with DMPP, a nitrification inhibitor, on the LCA for the CaNWtNBaN sequence. Total pre-farm plus on-farm GHG emissions varied between 915 CO2-e/ha (CpSgN) and 1890 CO2-e/ha (CaNWtNBaN). Cumulative N2O emitted over the 3-year study varied between 0.479 kg N2O-N/ha (CpWtCp) and 1.400 kg N2O-N/ha (CaNWtNBaN), which constituted 24–44% of total GHG emissions. Fertiliser production accounted for 20% (CpSgN) to 30% (CaNWtNBaN) of total emissions. An extra 4.7 kg CO2-e/ha was emitted for each additional kg N/ha of applied N fertiliser. Three-year CH4 emissions ranged from −1.04 to −0.98 kg CH4-C/ha. Split N and DMPP strategies could reduce total GHG emissions of CaNWtNBaN by 17 and 28% respectively. Results of the study indicate considerable scope for reducing the carbon footprint of subtropical, dryland grains cropping in Australia.

scholarly journals Study on the Vertical Linkage of Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity Change of the Animal Husbandry Sector between China and Its Provinces

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 2492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianyi Cai ◽  
Degang Yang ◽  
Xinhuan Zhang ◽  
Fuqiang Xia ◽  
Rongwei Wu
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Emission Intensity ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Productive Efficiency ◽  
Intensity Change ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
Gas Emission ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Ghg Reduction

China’s carbon intensity (CI) reduction target in 2030 needs to be allocated to each province in order to be achieved. Thus, it is of great significance to study the vertical linkage of CI change between China and its provinces. The existing research on the vertical linkage focuses more on energy-related economic sectors in China; however, attention has not been paid to China’s animal husbandry (AH) sector, although the role of the China’s AH sector in greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction is increasingly important. This study firstly established a vertical linkage of change in greenhouse gas emission intensity of the animal husbandry sector (AHGI) between China and its 31 provinces based on the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) decomposing method from the perspective of combining emission reduction with economic development, and quantified the contributions of each province and its three driving factors of environmental efficiency (AHEE), productive efficiency (AHPE), and economic share (AHES) to reducing China’s AHGI during the period of 1997–2016. The main results are: (1) The AHGI of China decreased from 5.49 tCO2eq/104 yuan in 1997 to 2.59 tCO2eq/104 in 2016, showing a 75.25% reduction. The AHGI in 31 provinces also declined and played a positive role in promoting the reduction of national AHGI, but there were significant inter-provincial differences in the extent of the contribution. Overall, the provinces with higher emission levels contributed the most to the reduction of China’s AHGI; (2) The AHPE and AHEE factors in 31 provinces cumulatively contributed to the respective 68.17% and 11.78% reduction of China’s AHGI, while the AHES factors of 31 provinces cumulatively inhibited the 4.70% reduction. Overall, the AHPE factor was the main driving factor contributing to the reduction of China’s AHGI. In the future, improving the level of AHEE through GHG emissions reduction technology and narrowing the inter-provincial gap of the level of AHPE are two important paths for promoting the reduction of China’s AHGI.

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