Greenhouse gases to carbon neutrality and carbon negativity; an overview of popular emission terms

""

In 2019, 90% of S&P 500 companies published sustainability or responsibility reports. In comparison, only about 20% of the S&P 500 companies had published a sustainability report in 20111. Whether you are a parent protecting the environment for your kids or a business professional safeguarding the long-term viability of your company through reduced environmental footprint, the focus on environmental sustainability, especially air quality, is on the rise, and it is well-needed.  

This article brings you the basics around some of the common terms associated with air quality and emissions.

Infographic card
Click to view infographic

What are the different greenhouse gases (GHG)?

There are four primary greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and fluorinated gases. These are called greenhouse gases since they contribute towards trapping heat within the atmosphere. The name greenhouse comes from the greenhouse facilities used to grow our plants. These greenhouse facilities trap the heat necessary for the growth of plants inside themselves; hence the name for greenhouse gases.

Why carbon emissions require the extra focus?

Longevity and abundance.

Carbon has the longevity and abundance over the other greenhouse gases
Carbon has the longevity and abundance over the other greenhouse gases
  • Carbon dioxide emitted today lasts in the atmosphere for over a thousand years. In comparison, methane emitted today lasts about a decade; nitrous oxides emitted today lasts about a century. 
  • Abundance is the second reason; about 80% of human-made GHG emissions is carbon dioxide. Methane, which is the second most emitted GHG, makes up only 10% of total GHG emissions.

A combination of carbon’s longevity and its abundance result in extra focus put into the reduction of carbon emissions. 

What is carbon neutral, carbon zero and carbon negative?

Carbon neutral means the carbon emitted from the activity is offset by other means such as carbon removal, purchase of carbon credits, planting trees or beyond. For example, your facility could be using low-emission diesel engines; meanwhile you deploy carbon removal technologies to offset your carbon emission to achieve carbon neutral electricity generation. 

Carbon zero means there is zero carbon emitted as a result of the specific activity; hence no need for carbon removal to offset the initial emission. For example, fuel cells powered by green hydrogen would produce carbon zero electricity.

Carbon negative means that there is more carbon removed from the atmosphere than the activity or equipment’s carbon emission.   

What are renewable energy credits and carbon credits?

Renewable energy credits (RECs) are a way for companies to contribute towards increased generation and use of renewable energy. Renewable energy credits are specifically focused on offsetting electricity use from non-renewable fuels. Meanwhile, carbon credits are more broadly focused on offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, beyond electricity generation. 

Let’s look at a real-life example. Many data center operators purchase renewable energy and associated RECs. In cases where the renewable energy is produced in a location far away from the data center, the data center operator sells the renewable energy back to the grid and uses RECs to offset its carbon footprint. This approach gives the renewable energy provider the customer commitment to invest in new projects. In other words, this approach delivers an increasing amount of renewable energy to the grid for all of us to use. Meanwhile, critics highlight that this approach doesn’t necessarily reduce the data center’s carbon contribution.

What is nitrous oxide emissions’ role as a greenhouse gas?

Nitrous oxides are commonly recognized as the cause of the smog present in urban locations with busy vehicle traffic or space heating needs. While there is less nitrous oxide emitted by humans compared to carbon dioxide and methane, nitrous oxide’s potent nature makes it an important greenhouse gas. It is estimated that one pound of nitrous oxide and 300 pounds of carbon dioxide have the equivalent effect on warming the atmosphere2

What has been done to reduce diesel engine emissions?

Diesel engines are used in many applications ranging from on-highway vehicles, such as buses and trucks, and off-highway vehicles, such as mine trucks, boats and locomotives; to stationary applications such as back-up power generators in healthcare facilities, data centers and other buildings.  

Today's clean diesel engines emit 90% less harmful emissions that the engines produced before the year 2000
Today's clean diesel engines emit 90% less harmful emissions that the engines produced before the year 2000

Over the last two decades, diesel engines’ emission of key pollutants has been significantly reduced through regulations. For example, a typical Cummins diesel engine used in a mining application emits 90% less particulate matter (PM), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC) compared to engines produced before the year 20003

It is broadly agreed that carbon zero and carbon negative technologies are the final destination in our environmental sustainability journey. The path towards our destination will feature a diverse set of technologies ranging from microgrids and stationary energy storage to fuel cells and renewables. 

Sign up below for Energy IQ to periodically receive energy and power insights. To learn more about power solutions Cummins Inc. offers, visit our webpage. 

 

References: 
1 2020 S&P 500 Flash Report (July 16th, 2020). Governance & Accountability Institute Inc. [Pdf file]. Retrieved from https://www.ga-institute.com/ 
2 Nitrous Oxide (n.d.). North Carolina Climate Office [Web page]. Retrieved from https://climate.ncsu.edu/
3 Cummins Tier 4 Final High-Horsepower Engines For The Mining Industry. (n.d.). [Pdf file]. Retrieved from https://cummins.com  

Aytek Yuksel - Cummins Inc

Aytek Yuksel

Aytek Yuksel is the Content Marketing Leader for Cummins Inc., with a focus on Power Systems markets. Aytek joined the Company in 2008. Since then, he has worked in several marketing roles and now brings you the learnings from our key markets ranging from industrial to residential markets. Aytek lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife and two kids.

The 15 White Coats Partners with Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore, powered by Cummins, to bring African American literature to Indianapolis Schools

mobile bookstore

The RESILIENT READERS BOOK CLUB is a school age book gifting initiative created by the nationally renowned The 15 White Coats and Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore to provide access to high quality Black literature through book boxes placed inside of youth centered organizations. The Indianapolis launch is made possible by global power leader Cummins Inc., through its Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity (CARE) initiative. We are all committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Moreover, we are committed to making a meaningful and lasting impact in the city of Indianapolis, IN.

Who

In 2019, The 15 White Coats (www.the15whitecoats.org), an internationally recognized non-profit organization whose mission is to diversify medicine through mentorship, literacy accessibility, and economic assistance. The 15 White Coats started after a photo of 15 Tulane School of Medicine African-American medical students posing in front of plantation slave quarters went viral. The organization has helped over 2000 students with over $500,000 in scholarships to help with entering the healthcare field, whether it’s physicians, dentists, PAs, optometrists, NPs, nurses, etc. Moreover, nearly 10,000 15 White Coats photos have been distributed to schools, students, institutions, and businesses worldwide. 

The non-profit has been featured by Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, New Orleans Times-Picayune, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, U.S. Today, AAMC, AMA and People Magazine.

Visit their site to learn more. 


Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore is a bookstore on wheels sharing stories that uplift Black life, Black heritage, and Black joy. Described as a "bookstore on wheels with ice cream truck energy” owner, Natalie Pipkin is on a mission to provide access and awareness to Black stories as well as excitement and engagement around reading, Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore debuted as Indiana's first bookstore on wheels June 2022 and is the first of its kind in the region. Since its initial online launch in December 2020, Black Worldschoolers has been a recipient of the Jrue & Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund, featured in Sports Illustrated, Scripps News, The Indianapolis Star, WFYI, FOX59 and WRTV. 

Visit the Black Worldschoolers site to learn more.


Cummins Inc., is a 104-year-old global power technology leader, with complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (U.S.), since its founding in 1919, Cummins employs approximately 73,600 people and is committed to powering a more prosperous world through three global corporate responsibility priorities critical to healthy communities: education, environment and equality ofopportunity. Cummins has a deeply rooted history in fighting for social justice, serving its communities and living the company’s core values of diversity and inclusion.

In October 2020, Cummins Inc. launched Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity (CARE) so Cummins could take a leading role in the work to dismantle systemic discrimination against the Black community in the U.S. As a first step in this journey, CARE brings together all Cummins' capabilities - its people, its balance sheet and the company’s philanthropy - to drive racial equity and combat the impact of racism on its people, communities, and economy. 

Through CARE, Cummins is taking decisive action to address, and spearhead change throughout targeted CARE communities in the U.S., across four impact areas:

  • Police reform
  • Criminal justice reform
  • Economic empowerment
  • Social justice reform

Through CARE’s efforts, Cummins is dedicated to improving communities in which it operates to have a direct impact on the lives of its employees and its neighbors.

WHY

According to Indiana’s National Assessment Educational Progress (NAEP), only 33% of 4th graders in Indiana read at or above a proficient level, with Black students among those suffering most. The NAEP results reflect the reality of educational inequities created by centuries of systemic racism that are still present today. How do we begin to engage and excite youth in the area of reading? High quality, culturally relevant books that can serve as mirrors and motivation to a historically left out population is a start. The Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood of Indianapolis has a scarcity of books in places where Black children are present and a lack of stories that positively reflect the youth within the communities.

This partnership is created to provide children and families access to enjoyable books, powerful stories and meaningful community interaction that will cultivate, a joy for reading, a healthy sense of self, fruitful lives and future aspirations. We will display boxes containing 15 curated books for K-3rd graders as designed by The 15 White Coats & Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore.

Employees from the Cummins Community Involvement Team (CIT) along with volunteers within partnering organizations will deliver the threetiered book boxes and read stories aloud to the children at site locations throughout the year. Locations in the Martindale-Brightwood community as identified by the Edna Martin Christian Center, Kipp Indy, and other local partners. The partnership will host a literacy event in collaboration with Kipp Indy Schools in Spring 2023 to bring in the Mobile Bookstore and National Book Award Finalist, Author, Derrick Barnes. 

Resilient Readers Book Club is a book gifting initiative for school age children created by the nationally renowned, The 15 White Coats and Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore, providing access to culturally relevant literature to inspire the youth of tomorrow. The Indianapolis area launch will take place March 6th 3 pm-6pm at KIPP Indy Legacy High School, and is powered by Cummins Inc.

We are inviting local and national media outlets to attend this groundbreaking event as well as to print details in order to raise awareness to the importance of having access to culturally relevant literature within our communities.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release (or for a sample, copy or demo), contact Dr. Russell J. Ledet at contact@the15whitecoats.org..

Cummins Office Building

Cummins Inc.

Cummins, a global power technology leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The company’s products range from internal combustion, electric and hybrid integrated power solutions and components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products.

Cummins’ Statement on South Carolina’s Proposed Abortion Ban

""

Over the past few months, Cummins has been communicating internally to our employees, and publicly, our concerns with laws and proposals that limit the ability of people to make decisions about their reproductive healthcare. We are very concerned with the proposed legislation in South Carolina that would limit reproductive healthcare access. 

If passed, this legislation will impact our employees, our communities and impede our ability to attract and retain a diverse workforce in South Carolina. Cummins believes that women should have the right to make reproductive healthcare decisions as a matter of gender equity, ensuring that women have the same opportunity as others to participate fully in the workforce and that our workforce is diverse. South Carolina’s proposed legislation is contrary to this goal.

For Cummins to be successful it is critical that we have a safe and welcoming workplace, and communities where we embrace our differences and enable all employees to thrive. As we continue to grow our footprint with a focus on selecting communities that align with our values and business goals, this law will be considered in our decision-making process.

We want to make it clear that Cummins will continue to provide our employees with access to high-quality, affordable healthcare, regardless of where they live and are able to make healthcare decisions based on what they believe is right for them.

Cummins Office Building

Cummins Inc.

Cummins, a global power technology leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The company’s products range from internal combustion, electric and hybrid integrated power solutions and components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products.

Redirecting to
cummins.com

The information you are looking for is on
cummins.com

We are launching that site for you now.

Thank you.