Climate Emergency: A Mounting Crisis that can Only Be Solved through a Concerted Effort
Publish On 15, Dec 2020 | Climate Emergency: A Mounting Crisis that can Only Be Solved through a Concerted Effort
Although it has been a topic of debate for decades, only recently has climate change increased in intensity and inched closer towards us to the point that all sectors are prompted to join forces and tackle this issue. In fact, the term “climate emergency” has also been coined to remind everyone, from governments and private businesses to the general public, of the gravity of the crisis and its impacts as well as to galvanize them into action.
An urgent problem that requires urgent action
As the crisis is quickly heading towards a point of no return, leaders of over 200 nations have gathered and jointly set a goal based on scientific data to keep the rise of temperature under an ideal 1.5 degrees Celsius or 2 degrees Celsius at most by the end of 2030. This will require greater efforts than before, with emphasis on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The approaches and targets that businesses can choose from include the “business as usual” approach, in which business operators try to minimize greenhouse gas emissions in their production, the “absolute” approach, where the amount of greenhouse gases is kept lower than actual emissions, and the net-zero emission target, which can be achieved through carbon capture and storage or utilization or through reforestation to absorb carbon dioxide and add oxygen to the atmosphere. At the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the members jointly set a global target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
SCG and its action plans for sustainability
SCG’s long-term goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2030 (compared to business as usual at the base year of 2007) to keep the global temperature rise under 2 degrees Celsius and is considering shifting this target to align with the 1.5-degree ambition and achieve net zero carbon.
Floating Solar Farm, STL project in Saraburi Thailand, 5 MW
On the manufacturing side, SCG has started from basic steps, such as reducing energy consumption, maximizing energy efficiency through design, improving the production to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and developing waste heat recovery innovations. Another important initiative is the adoption of digital innovation for plant management, such as the use of AI to optimize energy use or analyze machine performance for planning maintenance to maximize efficiency and prevent energy loss, which can in turn help decrease the emission of greenhouse gases.
Demonstration model at SCG Headquater, Bangkok
As for its products and solutions, SCG has developed innovations that reduce both energy consumption and the emission of CO2, including the floating solar solution, which promotes the use of clean energy and efficient space utilization, and emisspro®, an innovative coating for industrial furnaces that boost efficiency, decrease fuel consumption, and reduce the release of CO2 and NOx.
emisspro® an innovative coating for industrial furnaces
Furthermore, as brand owners are pursuing carbon reduction policies and businesses in the plastic industry are looking for materials to serve their needs, SCG also offers high-quality HDPE produced with strength-enhancing SMX technology. The innovative material can help reduce the wall thickness in a product while retaining its functional properties. This does not only save raw material in manufacturing but also makes the product more lightweight, which translates to less energy required for transportation and less carbon dioxide emissions. This material, thus, supports the development of low-carbon footprint products, through which manufacturers can demonstrate and pass on their commitment to reducing impacts of climate change to consumers.
The future of Thailand and the climate emergency policy
In Thailand, the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) is drawing up a draft National Climate Change Act, dubbed Global Warming Act, expected to be completed by the end of 2020. The act will serve as an instrument to integrate the efforts of the government, private, and public sectors and will also include a systematic carbon tax scheme, with the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization) providing academic data and support.
Another interesting mechanism is the EU emission trading system, which sets a cap on the total amount of greenhouse gases that each organization can emit, which allows them to trade emission amounts among each other. For instance, an organization can buy carbon credit from another organization that emits less carbon so as to remain within the cap. Thailand is in the process of study this trading system to achieve maximum efficiency.
If every sector prioritize the ongoing climate emergency and actively works together to tackle this crisis, it is still possible to conserve the environment and pass on to our children a world where they can have good quality of life and thrive. As a leader of circular economy, SCG is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emission through its internal policies, innovation, as well as products and services, and actively strives to achieve its goals to foster sustainability for Thailand and the world.
