Australian researchers have developed a new online tool called the Carbon Impacts Tracer, which is the first of its kind in the world. The tool allows for the calculation of how fossil fuel projects, such as mines and offshore oil platforms, will impact the climate. By analyzing carbon dioxide emissions data, the tool can estimate the effects of these projects on global warming, glacier melt, and potential human fatalities.
Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, a climate science professor at the Australian National University, explained during a virtual press conference that the tool connects emissions from individual fossil fuel projects to their contributions to planetary warming and subsequent specific impacts. The Carbon Impacts Tracer uses data provided by project proponents, typically from their environmental assessments, to predict the projects’ impact on global temperature increases. It then utilizes scientific research to determine real-world consequences, including coral reef degradation, reduced food production, and job losses.
The tool was launched with case studies on various projects, including the Bay du Nord offshore oil project in Canada. The Bay du Nord project, led by Equinor, is projected to extract more than 430 million barrels of oil reserves. According to the tool, the project could emit 188 megatonnes of CO2 over 20 years, resulting in a temperature rise of 0.00008 C globally. Additionally, it estimates that the emissions could lead to increased heat exposure for over 111,000 individuals and 25 heat-related deaths in Europe. The tool also predicts glacier loss, sea level rise, job losses, and increased poverty due to pollution from the project.
Joel Finnis, a climatologist at Memorial University, emphasized that the tool consolidates various studies to simplify understanding for the general public and challenges arguments in favor of expanding oil production. Maria Nawaz, from the University of New South Wales, highlighted the tool’s potential to link fossil fuel projects to their real-world impacts, aiding in climate litigation and risk assessment by insurers and economists.
The Carbon Impacts Tracer currently focuses on proposed projects, with plans to include more developments as data becomes available. It is expected to be utilized by governments, regulators, and the public to evaluate future projects in their regions. This tool aims to disrupt the notion that individual projects have minimal impact and provide a comprehensive assessment of their environmental and societal consequences.
