The European Union & Carbon

The past few days I went to a couple European Union (Also known as the “EU”) side events in the Bonn Zone at the COP . All of these side events shared a common thread which was carbon. Carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide or CO2) is one of the most common greenhouse gases and it is the one that the EU is trying to reduce.

At the "NDCs and Climate Policy Planning: How to Better Involve Trade Unions" side event presentation, it was stated that the EU represents 90 trade organizations and 40 of them are from European countries. The presenters talked about their recent projects which include green workplaces, climate policies, sustainable mobility and carbon pricing. Carbon pricing was further elaborated on at the ‘State and Trend of Carbon Pricing’ side event. Carbon pricing is a way to reduce carbon emissions by putting a tax on it.

The EU’s goal is to have an 80% domestic decrease in carbon emissions by 2050. They are doing this by understanding the challenges of decarbonization, creating decarbonizaton pathways and funding and promoting the use of low carbon technology. One of the pieces of software they are using to help them achieve this goal is EU Calc. EU Calc is carbon tax simulation program for businesses, organizations, decision makers and, the public. The program is designed to help with managing the trade offs of making a low carbon energy structure. They have major partners that are businesses and organizations from the UK, Germany, Belgium and, Switzerland.

Michelle Patron represented the US company Microsoft at the "State and Trade of Carbon Pricing" event. Microsoft's goal is to “Empower every person and every organization on the planet to thrive in a resource constrained world”. Ms. Patron stated that, since 2012, Microsoft has been “Carbon Neutral”. The company’s carbon neutrality has resulted in a 9 million ton reduction in carbon emissions, and saved the company $10 million annually in energy savings. The company pays $25 million a year for their carbon emissions from their offices, factories, labs and, business air travel from their carbon tax and use some of that money to make the company more eco friendly. By 2018 Microsoft’s goal is to have 50% of their offices, labs, and, factories to be powered by turbines and solar panels.

I’ve learned a lot about the effort to reduce carbon emissions the past few days alone at COP 23. I am interested to learn about other subjects during week two of COP 23.
Zach W.