Scope 3 hyperopia
The energy industry can barely tame its own emissions, let alone yours and mine
Hyperopia [noun] :: Far-sightedness, also known as long-sightedness, hypermetropia, or hyperopia, is a condition of the eye where distant objects are seen clearly but near objects appear blurred.
Big Oil companies are coming under increased scrutiny for their lack of ambition towards reducing so-called ‘Scope 3’ emissions (those of their customers). At the same time, the oil industry’s own enormous emissions footprint is not getting the attention it deserves. Something is amiss.
If web search data is a reliable indicator, interest in Scope 3 has never been higher. The phrase ‘Scope 3 emissions’ now gets more online attention than ‘Scope 1 emissions’ (those produced during operations) or ‘Scope 2 emissions’ (derived from the energy a company purchases).
The interest is understandable. Scope 3 emissions represent by far the biggest ‘target’, accounting for 80-95% of total carbon emissions from oil and gas companies. Eradicating them means waging a war against incumbent business models, bec…
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