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Home MSc in ACM MSc Applied Carbon Management Carbon Auditing & Management
Carbon Auditing & Management

(Core Course)

  

CCC Lecturer:  Dr Rachel Dunk                                                                             back to MSc courses

Introduction

Building on the underpinning knowledge gained in Semester 1, Climate, Carbon and Change, in this course our graduates will acquire key skills, gain valuable experience, and develop competency in Carbon Auditing and Management. Our graduates will develop a strong appreciation of both the drivers for and the practicalities of reducing greenhouse gas emissions - exploring carbon management from the perspective of individuals, communities, corporations, and governments.

There is a well known management maxim – ‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure’.
We need numbers to inform decisions, achieve improved outcomes, and track progress towards targets.  However, we have imperfect methods for quantifying emissions, and imperfect data regarding both the costs and benefits of taking action (or indeed not taking action).  

We will critically assess and apply the various methodologies available for determining carbon footprints, including the use of activity data in combination with emission factors, life cycle assessment, and input-output analysis. We also examine current and emerging carbon footprint reporting standards, guidelines, and carbon labelling schemes, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses for a variety of situations.

We then explore how carbon can be factored into decision making, and how to identify, prioritise and implement appropriate actions to reduce carbon emissions.  As metrics aren’t everything – we also take time to explore the factors that contribute to successful implementation, including the importance of positive communication and change management. 

During the course our graduates will be given the opportunity to get involved with current CCC projects, and guest speakers will visit us to share their extensive experience in carbon auditing and management.

This core course also incorporates all material from the CCC short course ‘An Introduction to Carbon Management’ which is currently undergoing professional accreditation with IEMA.  As such, all of our graduates who successfully complete this course will also be awarded the professional credit associated with the short course.

 

 

 

 Aims

  1. To gain an understanding of national and international gas emissions targets and reporting requirements
  2. To explore the concept of individual, community, corporate & national responsibility in carbon management
  3. To gain an understanding of carbon management strategies & systems
  4. To gain an understanding of the various methodologies and available standards that can be used to assess carbon footprints
  5. To develop skill in measuring carbon footprints that can be applied in different situations
  6. To gain an understanding of how to achieve a measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in personal, community, and business activities
  

 Intended Learning Outcomes

    On completion of this course, students will: 

    1. Understand the drivers for Carbon Management
    2. Understand the emissions targets and reporting requirements at an international and national level.
    3. Know the key steps in a robust and successful Carbon Management strategy
    4. Be able to explain what a Carbon Footprint is
    5. Be able to identify and document the direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to domestic (personal) Carbon Footprints, including consideration of upstream and downstream supply chains
    6. Be able to identify and document the direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the operational Carbon Footprint of an organisation, including consideration of upstream and downstream supply chains
    7. Appreciate the concept of embodied carbon and the Carbon Footprint of materials & products (using both a process based end to end lifecycle approach and input-output techniques)
    8. Appreciate the use of Carbon Impact Assessments in decision making
    9. Appreciate the use of Project Accounting within international greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and reporting (e.g. CDM projects)
    10. Be able to identify and prioritise appropriate cost effective actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a variety of scenarios
    11. Know how to develop, implement & monitor an action plan in order to achieve a measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, including identification of KPIs & the characteristics of successful change management
    12. Understand the concept of carbon offsetting, the role that offsetting plays within a robust Carbon Management strategy, and be able to apply selection criteria for purchasing offsets
    		  

    Assessment

    • Critical Review OR Numerical Analysis examining an aspect of GHG emissions (30%)
    • Carbon Footprint Assessment & Recommendations (PBL - Group & Individual Components) (30%)
    • Performance in workshop activities/tasks (10%)
    • Examination (30%)

    Summative assessment: assessment contributing to a final grade for the course

    		  

     Teaching hours

    • Lectures: 20 hours (2 hours per week for 10 teaching weeks)
    • Seminars/Workshops: 30 hours (3 hours per week for 10 teaching weeks)

    Total: 50 hours (5 hours per week for 10 teaching weeks)

    Ten teaching weeks, each comprising of some two hours of lectures and up to three hours of seminar/workshop/field class

    		  

    Timetable: Semester II

    Wednesday: 10:00-12:00 (Lecture); 13:00-16:00 (Seminar/Workshop)

    		  

     Prescribed and recommended texts

      This is a fast developing field - please note updated texts are likely to come online prior to 2010/11.  Based on current press:

      • Judith R. Purman (2008). Tracking Your Carbon Footprint: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding & Inventorying Greenhouse Gas Emissions. iUniverse.com.
      • Chris Goodall (2007). How to Live a Low-carbon Life: The Individuals Guide to Stopping Climate change.  Earthscan Publications Ltd.
      • Andrew J Hoffman (2007). Carbon Strategies: How Leading Companies are Reducing Their Climate Change Footprint.  The University of Michigan Press.
      • Kenny Tang & Ruth Yeoh (Eds) (2007). Cut Carbon, Grow Profits: Business Strategies for Managing Climate Change & Sustainability.  Middlesex University Press.
      • Andrew W Savitz & Karl Weber (2006). The Triple Bottom Line: How Today’s Best-run Companies Are Achieving Economic, Social & Environmental Success – And How You Can Too.  Jossey Bass.

      The following GHG emission reporting standards will be used during the course:

      • A Corporate Accounting & Reporting Standard (2004) & The GHG Protocol for Project Accounting (2005): Both available for free download from the GHG Protocol website (www.ghgprotocol.org/standards)
      • ISO 14064:  This ISO standard is based on the GHG Protocol.  Students do not need to buy this standard as they will be able to refer to the copy held by the Crichton Carbon Centre.
      • PAS 2050:  Available for free download from the Carbon Trust website (http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/)                          

       

       
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