An important outcome from the first week of COP29 was the approval of international standards in the global carbon market… This decision provides a formal basis for the mechanism established by Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement; known as the ‘Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism’.
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement details how participants can pursue voluntary cooperation to reach their climate targets – with the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism identifying and encouraging opportunities for verifiable emission reductions, attracting funding to implement them, and allowing cooperation among countries and other groups to conduct and benefit from these activities.
For example, through this mechanism a company in one country can reduce emissions in that country and have those reductions credited, so that it can sell them to another company in another country. That second company may use them for complying with its own emission reduction obligations or to help it meet net-zero targets.
Here at Signal Group, we very much welcome this development because it will help to accelerate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. Some carbon credit projects do not involve the direct measurement of GHG gases – wind farms and forest conservation for example. However, it is important to note the word ‘verifiable’ in the text, and this is where our GHG analysers will play a critically important role, because, where GHGs are emitted, it is only possible to claim GHG emissions reductions (by carbon capture for example) if they are measured, and one of the most important ways to do this is with an accurate, reliable gas analyser. Further measurements will be necessary if the captured carbon is stored or utilised (CCS or CCUS).
The S4 PULSAR for example employs NDIR technology to measure a range of critically important gases including GHGs such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane. The S4 PULSAR is an extractive gas analyser, capable of drawing samples from both before and after carbon capture, so that effective GHG emissions reduction can be demonstrated.
To generate carbon credits, a project’s emission reductions need to be measured and quantified. This involves calculating how much CO2 (or equivalent GHGs) has been avoided or removed compared to the baseline. The calculation depends on the specifics of the project and involves standard methodologies set by certifying bodies. It is important to note that although the term ‘carbon credits’ is applicable, it is actually a term that applies to all GHGs – hence the mention of ‘or equivalent GHGs’.
With the ability to measure a range of GHGs, as well as carbon dioxide, the S4 PULSAR uses reference method gas analysis for important GHGs such as methane and nitrous oxide. Why are they important?
Well, methane is about 25 times more powerful as a GHG than carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide is 300 times more powerful!
