Determination of greenhouse gas emissions; Case study for a turkish marine technology company

Abstract

Global warming poses serious risks both today and in the future. The increase in global temperature poses serious problems such as climate change, sea level rise, ecosystem degradation, decrease in agricultural productivity, and depletion of water resources. The increase in human-induced greenhouse gases forms the basis of global warming. As a result of the growing concern about greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), international initiatives to control and take measures in this area are increasing and gaining importance. In addition to the obligations imposed by international deposits, businesses also have social responsibilities to ensure a sustainable future. In this context, carbon footprint assessments are one of the most important tools for switching to more environmentally friendly operations. As an energy-intensive sector, the maritime industry causes important amounts of air emissions, particularly GHGs. Most of the research on GHG reduction from shipping focuses on reducing emissions during the operational phase. However, as emissions during ship operations are reduced, ships' construction, dismantling, and maritime technology generation phases become increasingly important. This thesis includes carbon emissions and calculations from a maritime organization and its activities. It is within the scope of the thesis to determine the standards and methods used in calculations by processing the corporate carbon footprint. The case study conducted for a marine technology company operating in Türkiye aims to set an example in determining the carbon footprint, contribute to the sustainability performance of the sector by examining the environmental impacts of maritime companies, and guide future studies. Within the scope of the research, in order to calculate the corporate carbon footprint (CF) according to the criterias specified in the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064, firstly, the activity boundaries are determined by determining information such as the use of transport vehicles, the types of energy used and the wastes generated. Scope-1, Scope-2, and Scope-3 emission sources are classified. After these emission sources are identified, the necessary data are obtained from the maritime technologies enterprise to calculate the carbon footprint. Emission factors published in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) notifications are included in the data pool. Corporate carbon footprint calculation is carried out by multiplying the data obtained from the maritime technologies enterprise with the relevant emission factors and obtaining emission data in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) according to the activities. In the study, direct and indirect emissions of the maritime technologies business are calculated within the determined operational limits. As a result of the calculations made, the scope I emissions of the examined facility are determined as 85,791 tons of CO2e, mainly from mobile combustion, scope II emissions from purchased electricity are determined as 51,455 tons of CO2e, while scope III emissions, which are mostly not included in scope I sources and are indirectly caused by fuel consumption, are determined as 42,079 tons CO2e. According to these results, the total greenhouse gas emission of the marine technologies enterprise examined within the scope of the study is 179,325 tons of CO2e according to 2023 data. In the study, it is observed that 47.86% of the total greenhouse gas emissions are Scope I emissions, 28.69% are Scope II emissions and 23.46% are Scope III emissions. The results will provide a comprehensive overview of the facility's carbon emissions from various sources and help identify key areas for potential reductions in GHG emissions. According to the results of the carbon footprinting for the maritime technologies business enterprise, strategies that can be followed according to emission sources in all three scopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are shared. The data obtained provide a critical basis for understanding the environmental impacts of various aspects of maritime activities. These results will contribute to guiding the sustainability efforts of maritime businesses and their commitment to leaving a cleaner environment for future generations. Future studies will have an important role in monitoring the effectiveness of these measures and continuously improving the environmental performance of the maritime business.