Water footprint verification consists of determining exactly how much freshwater is invested (directly or indirectly) in the production of a consumer good, a process, a service offered or simply in the operation of a company or organization.
Since water is a scarce, limited but essential resource in the different productive sectors, companies of different nature find in the evaluation of the Water Footprint, a reference tool for continuous improvement in the sustainable use of water resources.
Water footprint is a sustainability indicator based on the ISO 14.046:2014 Standard establishing a methodology for the assessment of water use of products, processes and organizations through life cycle analysis.
The Water Footprint methodology is based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, which is used to determine the various environmental impacts that arise throughout the life cycle of a product (also standardized by ISO 14040 and 14044).
There are mainly two reference schemes for the calculation and management of water-related Footprints: the Water Footprint Network for the calculation and management of the Water Footprint, and the ISO 14046 standard for the calculation and assessment of the Water Footprint. While the former (Water Footprint) focuses on the quantification of the water consumed, the latter (Water Footprint) additionally evaluates the associated environmental impacts under a life cycle analysis approach.
The acronym DNSH defines the principle of "no significant harm to the environment" which must be met to ensure that the measures of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) do not cause harm to any of the six environmental objectives considered in the Taxonomy Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020).
The DNSH principle is based on 6 environmental objectives on the basis of which the environmental assessment of actions is carried out.
The European Mechanism for Recovery and Resilience, MRR, only allows the financing of projects that respect the principle of "no significant harm to the environment" or DNSH, which is why for each of the actions it is required the validation of such compliance by an external entity accredited by ENAC, such as ACERTA.
This requirement has been extended to the application of ERDF funds, an example of which is that DNSH validation is requested in some lines of aid managed by CDTI (LIC, LICA, R&D).
An Energy Saving Certificate (ESC) is an electronic document that guarantees that, after carrying out an energy efficiency action, a new final energy saving equivalent to 1 kWh has been achieved. We understand energy efficiency actions as everything we can do to avoid wasting energy.
This is an instrument that makes it possible to monetize energy savings, recovering part of the cost of investments made in energy efficiency, so that the end user can receive a consideration if he sells the savings obtained for subsequent certification through the CAE System.
Climate change mitigation. In reference to the production of greenhouse gases.
2. Adaptation to climate change. Activities that have an impact on the climate, people or environment.
3. Sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources. Do not harm the good ecological status of surface, subway, or marine waters.
4. Circular economy. Waste prevention and recycling, as well as efficiency in the use of natural resources.
5. Pollution prevention and control. Avoid a significant increase in emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere, water or soil.
6. Protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems. Not to adversely affect the resilience of ecosystems or the conservation status of habitats and species.
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