Carbon Management & GHG Accounting Flashcards
7 cards from real CSC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Carbon Management & GHG Accounting flashcards as text
What is a 'carbon offset' in the context of carbon management?
Answer: A verified reduction or removal of emissions used to compensate for emissions elsewhere
A carbon offset is a verified reduction, removal, or avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions in one location that is used to compensate for emissions occurring at another location.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) requires corporate emissions reduction targets to align with which climate goal?
Answer: Limiting global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels
SBTi requires companies to set emissions reduction targets consistent with the level of decarbonization needed to limit global warming to well below 2°C, and ideally 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels.
Which of the following is an example of a voluntary carbon market certification standard?
Answer: Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) / Verra
The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), administered by Verra, is a leading voluntary carbon market standard that certifies carbon offset projects and issues tradeable carbon credits.
What is the primary conceptual difference between a carbon tax and a cap-and-trade system?
Answer: A carbon tax sets a price per ton of emissions while cap-and-trade sets a ceiling on total emissions
A carbon tax sets a direct price per metric ton of CO2 emitted, giving emitters flexibility on quantity; a cap-and-trade system sets a fixed cap on total emissions and lets companies trade allowances within that limit.
What does the term 'carbon neutrality' mean when applied to an organization?
Answer: The organization balances total GHG emissions with equivalent offsets or removals
Carbon neutrality means an organization balances the total amount of greenhouse gas it emits by purchasing equivalent offsets or achieving equivalent carbon removals, resulting in a net-zero carbon impact.
Which methodology is most commonly used to calculate the carbon footprint of a product across its entire lifecycle?
Answer: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impacts—including carbon footprint—of a product from raw material extraction through manufacturing, use, and end-of-life disposal.
What is 'additionality' in the context of carbon offset projects?
Answer: The requirement that an offset project reduces emissions beyond what would occur without the offset incentive
Additionality requires that the emissions reductions from a carbon offset project would not have occurred in the absence of the carbon market incentive—the reductions must be 'additional' to a business-as-usual scenario.