Background
The RSPO Greenhouse Gas Working Group (GHGWG) was first formed in May 2009 to establish a mechanism to quantify and determine the boundaries in measuring GHG emissions. As a result, in 2012 the PalmGHG calculator Version 1 (an Excel-based calculator) was developed, which enabled identifying, monitoring and assessment of GHG emissions from upstream palm oil production.
In 2016, the PalmGHG was revamped into a desktop-based software as Version 2.1.1 and Version 3.0. After two years, the PalmGHG Version 4 (currently in use) was upscaled into a web-based software.
The establishment of this GHGWG-2 consists of two subgroups: the first subgroup will look at the upstream emissions scope while the second subgroup will look at the downstream emissions scope. The main purpose for the first subgroup is to revise the methodology (i.e., calculation boundary, emission factor and calculations) for PalmGHG with the scope of work as shown below:
- Developing a gap study which includes identifying areas that overlap with other GHG initiatives/calculator/methodologies with the existing PalmGHG calculator as well as opportunities for improvement in emissions/sinks/removal and reporting
- Evaluating the current PalmGHG emission boundary (plantation and mill activities)
- Recommending GHG emission reduction targets to support the revision of the 2018 Principles and Criteria (P&C)
- Supporting the P&C review Task Force on GHG-related matters
- Evaluating outdated emission factors and incorporating new emission factors (including Scope 3 emissions)
- Overseeing the development of the PalmGHG calculator Version 5
There has been growing interest among RSPO Members to report downstream GHG emissions. In line with this, RSPO is seeking to develop a mechanism to calculate downstream GHG emissions, with the aim of measuring operational emissions, which is the largest emissions contributor for downstream activities.
RSPO is also aware of the palm oil industry’s growing interest to be Net Zero. With more members embarking on this journey, the existing upstream emissions calculator (PalmGHG) and a downstream emissions methodology (to be developed) will be an instrumental tool towards this commitment. This would also guide members to espouse one of the goals of the Shared Responsibility requirements. Thus, the second subgroup is aimed to conduct a comparative study based on existing initiatives in measuring downstream emissions for the palm oil sector that will be used to report operational emissions. Below is the scope of work for the second subgroup:
- A comparative study based on existing initiatives in measuring downstream operational GHG emissions for the palm oil sector
- A feasibility report evaluating methodology for RSPO to measure downstream operational GHG emissions
Members
Dita Galina
Derrick Jovannus
Foo Siew Theng
Eza Nurain Abdullah
Gotz Martin
Hema Nadarajah
Low Sim Loo
Kamal Seth
Musim Mas
Musim Mas
Wilmar International
Sime Darby
Golden Agri Resources (GAR)
WWF
IOI
WWF
P&T
P&T
P&T
Grower
Grower
Grower
Grower
ENGO
Substantive
Alternate
Substantive
Substantive
Substantive
Substantive
Alternate
Alternate
Lai Wei Shoon
Azizul bin Rahman
IOI
Wilmar International
P&T
P&T
Substantive
Substantive
