UK action on assessing GHG
significance in EIA
IAIA17 – Montreal, Canada
George Vergoulas
Wednesday 5th April, 2017
The drivers
• The new Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) Directive
(2014/52/EU)
• Legally binding UK target of
80% emissions reduction from
1990 levels by 2050
• Interim target - 34% UK
emissions reduction from 1990
levels by 2020
• The Paris Agreement
2
The drivers
3
EIA – the step approach
Screening
4
Scoping
Baseline
Assessment
Significance
and
Mitigation
Reporting
Scoping
• GHG emissions should always be scoped in EIA as good
practice, and the assessment detail proportionate to the project size
• Engage with local planning authorities, stakeholders and the
client
• Fully understand the project’s purpose and implications
• Identify key contributing GHG sources or activities prior to
detailed assessment
• Consider mitigation and alternative scenarios as early as possible
5
Requirements for measuring GHG emissions
6
•
Defining study goal and scope
•
Study boundaries
•
Study period
•
Inclusions and cut off rules
•
Quantification methodology
•
Uncertainty
•
Using tools
Adopting a life cycle approach and proportionality
• Insert PAS 2080 guide figure
• Picture of report
7
Significance
• GHG emissions from all projects
will contribute to climate change; the
largest inter-related cumulative
environmental effect
• GHG emissions have a combined
environmental effect that is
approaching a scientifically defined
environmental limit, as such any
GHG emissions or reductions from a
project might be considered
significant
8
Significance
• There is no single preferred
methodology for determining
significance or defining a GHG
threshold.
• Contextualising GHG emissions
against sectoral, local or national
emissions budgets is encouraged
9
Key lessons
• Always scope in GHG
emissions as good practice
• All GHG emissions
contribute to climate
change
• Flexibility – a detailed
LCA may not always be
necessary
• Early stakeholder
engagement is encouraged
to maximise mitigation
10
Q&A
Contact details:
George Vergoulas
Arup, 13 Fitzroy Street, London, W1T 4BQ
E: [email protected]
T: +44 20 7755 2263
PAS 2080
12
PAS 2080
• A system for the management of carbon emissions for
infrastructure projects and programmes of work
Key components:
13
Adopting a life cycle approach and proportionality
14
Mitigation opportunities
15