Chemical Risk Appraisal and Management
There are tens of thousands industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals and naturally occurring compounds that collectively act as building blocks for many valuable and life enhancing products and services enjoyed by most societies. However, there are also potential health and environmental impacts during extraction, manufacture and conversion of chemicals into useful items. In some cases, these can extend into the use and decommissioning phases of the lifecycle, creating the need for informed management techniques and policies. Part of the problem is that, the datasets for many long-standing industrial chemicals are incomplete with uses being `grandfathered` from previous generations. National and international regulators and public opinion are now rightly demanding more transparency from industry and a higher degree of scrutiny in most cases. Accordingly, just as all stakeholders have a responsibility for the problem, all have a role to play in the solution.
Caleb is well placed to act in the area of `Chemical Risk Appraisal and Management` where this involves the engagement of stakeholders and the building of consensus on regulatory issues. The company has strong relationships with regulators throughout the world. However, because of our geographic location, these are probably at their strongest in the European Union where, the increasing expression of the precautionary principle in European Chemical Policy development is causing much angst at this time. Caleb has positioned itself to provide, not only alerting services, but also, more importantly, the capability to engage with regulators in order to provide balance to the argument and develop mutual understanding. We feel passionately that the chemical industry has failed to communicate its value to society and this often forms the first plank of our approach with regulators who are often looking for an over-simplistic answer to their perceived problems. In parallel, however, we do not shy away from explaining the stark responsibilities faced by an industry which has taken its `license to operate` for granted for too long.
Among the chemicals that we are currently working with are phenol, resorcinol, formaldehyde and alkyl phenols. This takes us into the `mysterious world` of endocrine disruption and the even more mysterious efforts to harmonise test protocols and regulatory approaches. Other areas of specific interest are halogenated chemicals and particularly their persistent and bio-accumulative characteristics. Of course, a sub-set of this sector is the family of chlorfluorocarbons, which as ozone depleting substances have become a business unit all of their own!
Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol
The impact of temperature rise on sea levels and weather patterns is still emerging and such effects may never be fully attributed to global warming, since the mechanisms are too complex and the burden of proof is too great.
The Precautionary Principle has become the basis on which action needs to be contemplated and the creation of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) following the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 became the first step in the regulatory response. IPCC continues to guide global policy development in this area and this contribution led to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. However, the political implications of climate change on economic growth and society`s current way of life are so pervasive that some Governments are still finding it difficult to fully engage the agenda.
Although originally drawn into the Climate agenda by its Montreal Protocol interests, Caleb has extended its activities in areas where its technical expertise and policy experience have relevance. This has been particularly the case on the issue of building energy efficiency, where Caleb believes that there is a major opportunity to make significant and cost effective (in climate change policy terms) savings. In pursuit of this objective, Caleb has produced a series of reports in support of groups such as EuroACE to promote the importance of building energy efficiency at European level. Caleb also continues to advise the UK Government on the implementation of strategies (regulatory, fiscal and altruistic) in order to promote energy efficiency and has been particularly instrumental in the revision of thermal efficiency standards for pipe insulation. The company also continues to monitor the development of carbon trading schemes to assess their effectiveness in promoting good energy management.
With its strong background in technology transfer and project management, Caleb is well placed to assist in renewable energy projects. Recently it has strengthened its team in the area of biomass technologies, where it believes that there are significant opportunities - particularly in village-based small-scale facilities in developing countries. Caleb believes that it can bring a holistic approach to the small-scale biomass concept by incorporating other sustainability parameters (e.g. biodiversity) into the design of projects.
Caleb is seeking to share this experience with other project owners to develop more CDM biomass and biogas projects in China and Asia. Caleb provides strategic advisory and project development services by partnering with project owners to ensure that the carbon integrity of the project are realised and maximised. Caleb is now involved in missions to foster new partnerships for the development of high quality CDM projects in China for buyers in Europe, Canada and Japan.
Dr. Jason Yapp, CDM specialist of Caleb, has completed the first CDM PDD for developing large-scale biogas plants for the conversion of pig waste into biogas for electricity generation in Henan, China for Asia Development Bank. Jason is a CDM Consultant specialising in developing high quality CDM projects for the conversion of agro-industrial biomass wastes into biogas for electricity generation for the agriculture, food, distillery and brewery sectors. Dr. Jason Yapp has been engaged by Asia Development Bank, Philippines as their staff CDM Consultant responsible for screening the CDM potential of their bilateral pipeline loans across Asia.
