Details
1-day course
CPD Credit: 6.5 hours, C1
Course Aim
This course aims to provide delegates with an overview of the Greenhouse Gases (GHG’s) which contribute to climate change, their major sources, relative contributions, and how they are measured. It will provide an introduction into how these combine, through Carbon Dioxide Equivalents (CO2-eq), to form Carbon Footprint/s (CF) and the standard methods used to calculate the CF.
Course Overview
At Global, European Union and National levels, extremely challenging targets have been set with the aim of achieving Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2050, in an attempt to keep the world below an average temperature rise of 1.50C and avoid the worst impacts of the climate emergency. In Ireland, the Climate Action Plan 2021 sets out a detailed plan to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, with a target to net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. Achieving these reductions will require an evidence-base, on the Carbon Footprint/GHG emissions of products, processes, and services across all sectors.
This course will introduce the standard methods for Carbon Footprinting/Accounting, and how these can be applied, in a range of contexts, with a focus on GHG emissions of products, processes, and services.
Course Objectives
- Understand the current scientific consensus on Climate Change and the latest projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- Understand the Greenhouse Gases (GHG’s) which make up the Carbon Footprint (CF), their primary sources and their relative contribution to Climate Change
- Learn how these combine through Carbon Dioxide Equivalents (CO2-eq) to form the Carbon Footprint (CF)
- Learn how to calculate a Carbon Footprint for Products, Processes and Services, using the relevant standard and related guidance (ISO 14067:2018, Greenhouse gases – Carbon footprint of products)
- Learn how to measure Carbon/GHG emissions (Scope 3 Greenhouse Protocol (products), to fulfil the reporting requirements of the International Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) System
- Understand the range and application of other Carbon Footprint/s for organisations and projects
- Understand how the different Carbon Footprint/s relate to each other and combine in measurement and reporting
Course Programme
- Introduction to the current scientific consensus on Climate Change
- Introduction to the Greenhouse Gases (GHG’s) which make up the Carbon Footprint (CF)
- Application of standards and guidance to calculate a Carbon Footprint for Products, Processes and Services
- Introduction to the range and application of other Carbon Footprint/s for organisations and projects
- Introduction to how the different Carbon Footprint/s relate to each other and combine in measurement and reporting
- Recommendations on Next Steps
- Q & A
Who Should Attend?
Engineers and other disciplines with an interest in evaluating the Carbon Footprint of technologies and processes and making choices between these in the context reducing Life Cycle GHG emissions and measurement and reporting on progress towards reduction targets.
Trainer’s Profile
Dr Robin Curry BSc MSc DPhil FCIWM FHEA
Lecturer, Queen’s University of Belfast
Robin is a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (SCCE), at Queen’s University Belfast. He has over 20 years’ experience in Carbon, Ecological and Resource Accounting and has co-developed and teaches on the new MSc in Net Zero Engineering at QUB https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-taught/net-zero-engineering-msc/
Robin has carried out and published research in carbon and material accounting for the Irish EPA, DOE Northern Ireland and Scottish Government. He has extensive experience of working with industry in the evaluation of the Life Cycle Carbon Footprint of Products, Processes and Services, with a particular focus on renewable/bioenergy systems, and the Construction and Water industries. He is co-author of the book chapter ‘Metabolic impact assessment. A review of approaches and methods, in the Routledge Companion to Environmental Planning, and has published over 20 peer reviewed journal articles and presented his work at numerous International Conferences.

Engineers Ireland supports the Sustainable Development Goals. This event contributes to Engineers Ireland's Sustainability Framework.
Please contact the Team for further information on scheduled course dates and In-Company options. You can reach us by phone: 01 665 1305 or email cpdtraining@engineersireland.ie