Emission discounting method for mitigation of environmental issues

Abstract

The environmental impact assessment of a process helps in predicting the contribution of a given process to abate the environment pollution. Considering its diminishing and time-dependent effect, assessment of the overall effect of emissions is very complex. It is possible to evolve a generalized methodology for arriving at a single emission discounting number for the process, using the concept of time value of carbon emission flow. The number incorporates the effect of the emission resulting from the process as well as the machinery over the entire operational lifespan. The advantage of this method is its quantitative aspect as well as its flexible nature and can be applied to any process or technology. Based on this method, the discounting rate for a process can be determined and it can be used to assess the mitigation capability of a technology.