Carbon emissions intensity ratio: An indicator for an improved carbon labelling scheme

Zhao, Rui; Deutz, Pauline; Neighbour, Gareth; McGuire, Michael

Abstract

This letter proposes a new carbon labelling scheme to improve the visibility of products' life cycle carbon emissions (sometimes defined as carbon footprint). This approach starts by normalizing carbon emissions data on a common scale of 'carbon emissions intensity', and a new indicator 'carbon emissions intensity ratio' is generated based upon its ratio to the annual national greenhouse gas emission per gross domestic product. Five ranges (extremely low, low, medium, high and extremely high) are used to represent the level of carbon emissions intensity ratio by a simple diagram with colour gradation. Case examples are presented, in which the carbon emissions intensity ratios of various selected products, both distinct and related, are calculated and compared. The limitations of this approach are then discussed, laying a foundation for further work.

Citation

Zhao, R., Deutz, P., Neighbour, G., & McGuire, M. (2012). Carbon emissions intensity ratio: An indicator for an improved carbon labelling scheme. Environmental Research Letters, 7(1), Article 014014. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/7/1/014014

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 17, 2012
• Online Publication Date: Feb 1, 2012
• Publication Date: 2012-01
• Deposit Date: Apr 13, 2022
• Journal: Environmental Research Letters
• Print ISSN: 1748-9326
• Electronic ISSN: 1748-9326
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 014014
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/7/1/014014
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/423814