CO₂ is playing an increasingly important role in the work of governments - but in practice, it is often factored in as a retrospective measurement or a separate sustainability indicator. CO₂ pricing is changing that. By translating emissions into euros, it becomes clear that CO₂ is not an abstract environmental theme, but a social cost item related to health, infrastructure, water safety and quality of life. 

CO₂ pricing often makes circular economy solutions more attractive because they typically reduce emissions. Life Cycle Costing tools which incorporate factors such as emissions therefore enable procurement agents to look beyond the upfront price and quantify environmental impacts over the life-cycle of a product or service.

Many governments have now started calculating CO₂. The next step will be for this information to influence choices in policy, projects and ultimately public procurement. There is no single correct CO₂ price or approach. In practice, governments work with different approaches, depending on their current needs.

Together with C-Prone, Urban Agenda, the City of Haarlem, the Dutch Climate Alliance and the Dutch water management agency, ACR+ is organising a series of webinars which will explore how CO₂ pricing is applied in practice as a management tool. 

This first webinar focuses on understanding and organising the topic. You will gain insight into: 

• Why CO₂ pricing looks so different in practice; 
• Which questions governments answer with CO₂ prices; 
• How policy and projects together give direction to choices; 
• How public procurement can safeguard and repeat these choices, without prescribing one single solution.

It is intended for policy officers for sustainability, the environment and public space; project leaders and programme managers; public buyers and contract managers; and administrators and consultants working on circular construction and infrastructure. 

This webinar will take place in English at 14:00-15:00 CET on 19 March. Registration is open until 12 March.