What gets measured gets done? Which is where we have a problem with Carbon and climate change. Scope 1,2,3 is in my opinion not very helpful and is confusing the major issues.
Firstly, what's wrong with scope 1,2,3? The burglar passes on the stolen painting to a fence (UK term for handler of stolen goods), who sells it to a collector (who knows that it has been stolen) - who is guilty? They all are. There is no scope 1,2,3 in this scenario - all are guilty of handling stolen goods. There is no innocent party saying 'I was just passing it on'. Same with carbon, you cannot extract oil and exclude yourself, you cannot process oil products, you cannot use oil without having dirty hands. Scope 1,2,3 just isn't working.
Climate change requires huge shifts in the way that we use energy, and resolving the problem down to Scope 1,2,3 does not address this. As per my recent posts, we know how hard measurement is. The problem is systemic and needs (mostly) large scale interventions - the type that only governments and large companies can make. The focus should be on measuring the effectiveness of these - we should be targeting everyone in the carbon supply chain.
We should measure Energy Throughput (MWH) and Carbon Intensity (CO2 Tonnes) - Nationally, Regionally, Organisationally and Personally.
If you stole the painting it counts against you, even if eventually it's not hanging on your wall.
Thoughts...
