Definition 1
Abatement Measures means specific actions, technologies, or practices that directly reduce, prevent or eliminate GHG Emissions at source within [an organisation’s OR the Company’s] operational or value chain, including the specific measures set out in [document]].
Drafting notes and guidance
Mitigation hierarchy
Abatement measures rank first on the mitigation hierarchy. A mitigation hierarchy is a strategy to reduce a contract party’s environmental impact that prioritises reducing value chain emissions before any other type of measure (for example, offsetting). For more information, see TCLP glossary term Mitigation Hierarchy.
Examples of abatement measures
Examples by sector are:
- Energy: emerging technologies, energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy deployment and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) [and Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS)].
- Real estate: insulation of new buildings, retrofitting of older buildings, energy efficiency and alternative energy sources.
- Consumer discretionary and staples: increasing energy efficiency and use of alternative energy sources, behavioural change (for example, consumers eating less meat).
- Transport: shift to rail transport, electric vehicles, reducing international business travel, prevent takeoff of empty airplanes.
- Capital goods: increasing energy efficiency in electrical, construction and engineering equipment.
- Forestry and agriculture: preventing deforestation in tropical areas, encouraging land restoration, reducing methane emissions from livestock through improved processing of manure.
Important considerations
Abatement measures can be implemented by governments, corporates, non-corporate entities or individuals. There are a wide variety of measures that can be taken. The GHG savings achieved will vary depending on geographical location, culture, sector and the parties involved.
When choosing which abatement measures to use, consider:
- relevant sector
- geographical location
- When identifying appropriate abatement measures, consider the abatement measures that are already in place (or supported) in the relevant location or sector.
- number of emitters and volume of their GHG emissions, for example:
- The fuel and energy sector is characterised by a relatively small number of emitters producing large amounts of GHGs.
- The forestry and agriculture sector is characterised by billions of emitters producing small amounts of GHGs.
- local and national policy that have a practical and financial impact on the parties to the contract
- Policies determine the efficacy of abatement measures, in particular by reducing or removing associated costs.
- additionality
- Consider whether proposed abatement measures represent genuine emission reductions beyond business as usual scenarios or regulatory requirements.
- measurement and verification
- All abatement measures should include quantifiable emissions-reduction targets and monitoring protocols to ensure effectiveness. Abatement measures’ effectiveness should be measured using scientifically robust baselines and standardised measurement protocols (for example, ISO 14064 series) to ensure accurate GHG Emissions reduction calculations.
Neutralisation measures
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) [and Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS)] technologies that prevent the release of GHGs at source are abatement measures. CCS [and CCUS] technologies that remove GHGs from the atmosphere are Neutralisation Measures. Lawyers should understand the relevant CCS [or CCUS] technology to determine whether it is an abatement measure (prevent release) or a neutralisation measure (remove).