Chemicals can make the world green...but

The global chemical industry's emission in 2005 by the way was estimated at 3.3 gigatons of CO2e, majority resulting from chemical production including fuels delivered to the chemical industry (2.1 GT) and the rest from extraction phase of the feedstock and fuel material as well as disposal phase of the end products (1.2 GT)

The study concluded that for every gigaton of CO2e emitted by the chemical industry in 2005, it enabled 2.1 to 2.6 gigaton of CO2e in savings via the products and technologies it provides to other industries or users.

"There would have been 3.6 to 5.2 gigaton CO2e or 8%-11% more emissions in 2005 in a world without the chemical industry." - report

The most significant emissions savings enable by the chemical industry (by volume) reportedly come from building insulation materials, agrochemicals, lighting, plastic packaging, marine antifouling coatings, synthetic textiles, automotive plastics, low-temperature detergents, engine efficiency, and plastics used in pipings.

Further analysis and scenarios to 2030 show that the chemical industry has substantial potential to help further reduce emissions, the study reported. For the chemical industry's own emissions, innovations include process and catalyst improvements and process intensifications; use of renewable feedstock including key building block raw materials from biomass; and advanced recovery and recycling technologies.

Biofuel, solar, fuel cell, carbon capture and storage technology, water treatment technology and other high-performance power storage devices are mentioned as possible innovative solutions that can help further reduce emissions linked to the chemical industry.

Finally, the fine print of this study is that in order for the chemical industry to continue (and accelerate) their good work in helping reduced GHG emissions, they need proper and effective global policies especially for carbon-based policies.

The study suggests that when forming these new climate change policies, regulators should consider the chemical industry's contribution and potential when it comes to reducing emissions. The chemical industry (especially from matured markets such as EU, US, Japan) is especially concerned that any of these climate change policies could caused distorted competitions and result in migration of industrial productions.

For example, other manufacturing countries could just do their usual business of producing chemicals w/o concern about emissions and therefore could be more globally competitive in terms of costs. The chemical industry calls this issue as "carbon leakage."

"Policies must ensure a level playing field so that we can keep high-paying, green chemistry jobs in the US and avoid the leakage of production and emissions to more carbon-intensive nations. If leakage occurs, the unfortunate result would be a net increase in global emissions," says ACC president and CEO Cal Dooley.

Aside from minimizing carbon leakage (via global carbon framework) some of their recommendations for policymakers include:

• Policies that give more support to energy-efficient products and applications

• R&D funding for new technologies that could reduce emissions

• Diversity of feedstock and energy (not restricting the use of specific feedstock...e.g. coal, natural gas, oil...)

• Reward companies that implement emission reduction measures

• Development of technologies and practices that ensure implementation of efficient and sustainable disposal, recover or recycling of chemistry-based products

• Regulations that ensure level playing field for all industry participants including developing regions.

Whew!! Now I wonder when they can come up with a report about the issue of people turning into mutants...