What Are Embedded Emissions?

As mentioned in our transport section, ICEVs are beginning to be phased out in favour of EVs. The batteries required to power these electric vehicles have large material requirements –  ‘For example, a single lithium-ion electric vehicle battery pack (a type known as NMC111) uses around 16kg of lithium, 46kg of nickel, 46kg of cobalt and 43kg of manganese’[1]. Therefore resulting in high c02 emissions from mining, transport, manufacturing during the start of the life cycle as well as recycling, deconstruction and disposal emissions at the end of the cycle. However, this is still not a point against EVs since for ‘electric cars and solar power, even the dirtiest batteries emit less CO₂ than using no battery at all’ , just something that must be considered and mitigated[1].

These intrinsic emissions are known as embedded emissions and efforts must be made to minimise them to reduce the environmental impacts of EVs further[2][3]. If not properly handled, the transition from ICEVs to EVs and alternative fuel vehicles will have heavy environmental costs and could be seen as an example of environmental problem shifting – described below. This is because we are not handling the root issues, unless we also our transition our mindset from viewing personal vehicles as a right to seeing them as a privilege that should only be used when there is no other alternative[2][3].

Environmental Problem Shifting Continued 

The second failure of planning that can cause problem shifting is not attempting to the solve the root issue. Problem shifting is much more likely when planners attempt to solve issues that are secondary and actually caused by a much deeper issue. Additionally, the idea of a trade-off – by substituting one environmentally expensive process/material or action with another, deemed to be more acceptable. This is usually because the root issue would be too difficult, time consuming or unfeasible to solve. When it is unfeasible to solve the true issue, a solution that causes problem shifting, is not a real solution so steps must be taken to avoid this[2][3].

How can we avoid problem shifting?

To avoid problem shifting, solutions must be comprehensive, well researched and data backed while also being adaptable. This means:

• Evaluating full life cycle impacts
• Considering both environmental and social factors
• Targeting the real issue and not secondary resulting issues