As an integral element of the consortium defined by CAOS to carry out the study, the participation of 3drivers, in partnership with Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), had as its main objective the proposal of a work plan in order to elaborate the projections of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) associated with the waste sector in the Azores Archipelago, as well as to identify and quantify the opportunities to mitigate these emissions.
The fight against climate change is identified as a priority for the Autonomous Region of Azores, as well as an opportunity for technological reconfiguration, ensuring competitiveness and future sustainability in critical sectors, and addressing fundamental issues of food and energy security, safeguarding people and property, and land use and mobility policies. In this regard, the development of the Regional Strategy for Climate Change (ERAC), which gave rise to the Regional Plan for Climate Change (PRAC) as its operational instrument, is identified as an activity of critical importance to the Azores’ climate resilience and sustainability.
In short, the main contribution of 3drivers’ work was related to the definition and programming of measures and actions for reducing GHG emissions from the waste sector.
The work for this study was developed in conformity with national and international policies, actions, concepts, and guidelines.
The activity level projections were validated by the regional authorities and were based on reference scenarios of economic and technological evolution. The emissions projections were made according to the structure and methodology provided for the Regional Inventory of Sources and Removal by Sinks of Air Pollutants (IRERPA) to be carried out for the base year, taking into account all relevant sources and sinks of air pollutants. In this way, these estimates made it possible to assess the regional contribution to GHG emissions.
In order to evaluate the proposed measures, a cost-benefit analysis was carried out.
The GHG emission reduction opportunities identified allowed for the quantification of their reduction potential, which helped to define scenarios of positive GHG emission evolution.
