Life in the Greenhouse

By: Carbon Accounting Reporting and Management Lab
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  • Summary

  • Carbon—humans are emitting way too much of it. The problem is simple, but solutions are tricky. How do we measure and reduce our carbon emissions? And how do we know if a person or company that pledges to reduce its emissions is actually doing so? On Life in the Greenhouse, we use greenhouse gas accounting as a tool to whittle headlines and break down major trends into understandable facts about climate change—where we are, where we’re headed, and what we might do about it. Our show is a production of the Carbon Accounting, Reporting, and Management Lab (CARML) at Northern Arizona University.
    Carbon Accounting, Reporting, and Management Lab
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Earth Sciences
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Episodes
  • S1 E4: Arriving at an Answer

    S1 E4: Arriving at an Answer
    Jun 4 2024
    Throughout this season we have been diving into a central question: Is it time to start calling oil & gas companies energy companies? In the final episode of season 1 of Life in the Greenhouse, we finally arrive at an answer through three interrelated conversations spanning greenhouse gas disclosure regulations, low-carbon transition plans, and the role of oil & gas in international climate negotiations. Thank you for tuning into Life in the Greenhouse! Show notes Ross’s Section SEC Disclosure Law: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/audit/articles/sec-climate-disclosure-guidance.html SEC disclosure law is held up in court: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/esg/sec-freezes-climate-rules-after-challengers-pushed-for-pause Legal updates on California’s GHG disclosure bill: https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2024/02/litigation-updates-on-californias-new-climate-disclosure-laws/ CSRD The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmcgowan/2024/05/01/eu-delays-some-esg-sustainability-reporting-requirements-until-2026/?sh=dd087bc7ceb5 Brandon’s Section ClimateAction 100 Net-zero indicators: https://www.climateaction100.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Climate-Action-100-Net-Zero-Company-Benchmark-Framework-2.0..pdf SBTi scope 3 statement from April 2023: https://sciencebasedtargets.org/news/statement-from-the-sbti-board-of-trustees-on-use-of-environmental-attribute-certificates-including-but-not-limited-to-voluntary-carbon-markets-for-abatement-purposes-limited-to-scope-3 SBTi letter from staff in response to scope 3 statement: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gvjkqr4k4cdtt57qit9s6/SBTi-Staff-Response-to-the-Board-of-Trustees-April-9-Statement.pdf?rlkey=o38yubknqezjqzim44wjtk5fb&e=2&dl=0 Grist article on SBTi scope 3 situation: https://grist.org/accountability/a-climate-pledge-verifier-said-it-would-allow-more-carbon-offsets-its-staff-revolted/ Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor: https://newclimate.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/NewClimate_CCRM2024.pdf Scope 3 flexibility claim: https://vcmintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Scope-3-Flexibility-Claim-Beta.pdf PLOS article on oil & gas clean energy claims vs reality: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8849545/pdf/pone.0263596.pdf IEA data on oil & gas expenditures: https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-investment-2023/overview-and-key-findings Transition Pathway Initiative: https://transitionpathwayinitiative.org/publications/uploads/2024-setting-the-standard-assessing-oil-and-gas-companies-transition-plans Erica’s Section COP28 Director-General dismisses criticism of his boss, says summit needs new mindset: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop28-director-general-dismisses-criticism-his-boss-says-summit-needs-new-2023-06-06/ ExxonMobil is suing investors who want faster climate action: https://www.npr.org/2024/02/29/1234358133/exxon-climate-change-oil-fossil-fuels-shareholders-investors-lawsuit ‘A Trojan horse of legitimacy’: Shell launches a ‘climate tech’ startup advertising jobs in oil and gas: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/26/shell-climate-tech-startup-onward-oil-gas-jobs-greenwashing
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    52 mins
  • S1 E3: Shades of Green in the Carbon Offset Market

    S1 E3: Shades of Green in the Carbon Offset Market
    Mar 25 2024

    Carbon offsets have been the center of some high profile scandals over the past few years, but what else is there to these stories? Why does the voluntary carbon market exist and how do we know if carbon offsets are actually making a difference? Tune in to Life in the Greenhouse to learn about all the shades of green in the carbon offset market.


    Show Notes:

    0:53 ClimeCo: https://shop.climeco.com/offset/air-travel/

    3:50 Carbon Accounting, Reporting, and Management Lab at Northern Arizona University: https://carml.rc.nau.edu/about/

    10:10 Refrigerant destruction: https://www.recoolit.com/

    11:45 Oil derricks in CA: https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/oil-derricks-california-old-photos/

    12:26 Over half a million oil derricks in the US: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-29709-3

    12:54 Oil well shut down: https://www.carbonpath.io/

    18:01 Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market “The 10 Core Carbon Principles”: https://icvcm.org/the-core-carbon-principles/

    19:11 Project Protocol: https://ghgprotocol.org/project-protocol

    23:37 “In Juneau, Alaska, a carbon offset project that’s actually working” Grist, January 2024 (subtitle: Visiting Alaska is an emissions-heavy prospect. An innovative program has tourists ease that by helping buy heat pumps for locals.)

    29:47 The Great Cash-for-Carbon Hustle The New Yorker 10/16/2023, about South Pole (company) and a great history of carbon credits plus the Zimbabwe Kariba project

    34:06 Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest certifier are worthless, analysis shows Guardian 1/18/2023, about studies into Verra, the world's leading offset certifier

    37:38 Oil companies relying on carbon offsets: https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/carbon-offsets-2023/companies.html

    38:55 Oxy claimed a shipload of crude oil was entirely carbon neutral: https://www.reuters.com/article/climatechange-fossilfuels-offsets-insigh-idINKBN2C31AO/
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    43 mins
  • S1 E2: Navigating Net Zero Narratives

    S1 E2: Navigating Net Zero Narratives
    Jan 11 2024

    Countless companies, including fossil fuel companies, have pledged to achieve net zero emissions. This sounds like great news! But there’s more to the story. We’re talking about what net zero really means and how a company could actually get there while explaining the importance of the Science-Based Targets Initiative.

    Show Notes:

    2:00 The ⁠Carbon Accounting, Reporting, and Management Lab⁠ (CARML) at Northern Arizona University

    8:12 2015 Paris Agreement, relevance to the history of net-zero targets, net-zero targets cover 91% of global economy: Net Zero: A short history

    14:50 Net Zero Tracker

    16:12 Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

    20:03 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) special report, “Global Warming of 1.5 ºC”

    21:21 SBTi policy on fossil fuel companies

    26:21 article about the CO2 pipeline failure in Satartia, Mississippi: “The U.S. is expanding CO2 pipelines. One poisoned town wants you to know its story” from NPR

    27:25 ExxonMobil highlighting enhanced oil recovery

    27:35 Oxy and net-zero oil

    31:05 Net Zero Tracker report Ross references

    35:20 List (dashboard) of companies with net-zero targets that the SBTi has validated

    35:40 CDP
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    38 mins

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