Lendlease unveiled a new protocol to monitor, measure, and disclose Scope 3 carbon emissions and called on built environment industry leaders to tackle this challenge.
Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions that occur in an organization’s value chain and often make up the majority of an organization’s carbon footprint. Lendlease says Scope 3 emissions comprise about 90% of its global carbon footprint.
Scope 3 emissions data, embedded in carbon-intensive materials such as steel, cement, aluminum, and glass, are especially challenging to track and measure. They have multiple source points and different levels of transparency, completeness, and assurance. Methods and standards for their calculation are inconsistent, and there is no standardized data exchange for them.
Lendlease is driving to change that with its new protocol that includes a Scope 3 Reporting Assessment Tool with more than 50 possible subcategories.
“We want the protocol to spark conversation and engagement across our sector, to help drive to a consensus on how to account for and report on Scope 3 emissions,” said Cate Harris, group head of sustainability. “If we can achieve this, then we can collaborate as an industry to solve the two big systemic challenges: the decarbonization of harder to abate materials, and the digitization and sharing of Scope 3 emissions data.”
Related Stories
| May 10, 2012
Chapter 6 Energy Codes + Reconstructed Buildings: 2012 and Beyond
Our experts analyze the next generation of energy and green building codes and how they impact reconstruction.
| May 10, 2012
Resilience should be considered a sustainability factor
Since a sustainable building is one you don't have to rebuild, some building sustainability experts believe adding points for "resilience" to storms and earthquakes to the LEED sustainability rating tool makes sense.
| May 10, 2012
University of Michigan research project pushes envelope on green design
A research project underway at the University of Michigan will test the potential of intelligent building envelopes that are capable of monitoring weather, daylight, and occupant use to manage heating, cooling, and lighting.
| May 10, 2012
Fire suppression agents go greener
Environmental sensitivity is helping to drive adoption of new fire suppression agents.
| May 10, 2012
Industry groups urge Congress to leave contracting decisions to agencies
An organization of several industry groups urged Congress to leave many contracting decisions to the discretion of individual agencies by avoiding blanket mandates.
| May 10, 2012
OSHA proposes new rule to have employers find and fix hazards
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed a new regulation, Injury and Illness Prevention Program, or I2P2, which would compel employers to find and fix safety hazards.
| May 3, 2012
Stay current on green codes at AGC Environmental Conference
Keep abreast of market trends such as 2012 changes to green standards and codes at the AGC Contractors Environmental Conference, June 7-8, 2012 in Arlington, Va.
| May 3, 2012
OSHA reduces fines in Cincinnati casino collapse
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has reduced the number of violations from four to two against four firms it cited earlier this month in the collapse of a casino under construction in Cincinnati.
| May 3, 2012
New York City implements controversial crane licensing requirements
New York City officials announced strict new licensing and testing requirements for all crane operators in New York City to raise safety standards.