Green Six Sigma

A Lean Approach to Sustainable Climate Change Initiatives

Ron Basu

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN:
  9781119861232
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781119861256
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Management
• Index: Business

Apply the tried-and-tested principles of Six Sigma to the fight against climate change 

In this much needed book, Dr Ron Basu delivers an insightful exploration as well as sage advice on how to apply the principles of Lean Six Sigma to today's climate crisis. Green Six Sigma: A Lean Approach to Sustainable Climate Change Initiatives is an adaption of Lean Six Sigma for climate change initiatives. How can we use Green Six Sigma urgently and effectively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the harmful effects of global warming? 

This practical and workable book covers topics that are highly relevant to the times we live in: 

• Climate change challenges and initiatives to mitigate them 
• Examination of the Green Six Sigma approach, its tools and techniques as well as modifications to incorporate both the digital revolution and sustainability 
• Applications of the Green Six Sigma approach to a variety of areas relevant to climate change and in all economic sectors including energy, transport, manufacturing, services and agriculture 
• Green Six Sigma in retrofitting houses and climate adaptation 
• Guides to the implementation of sustainable climate change initiatives 

This book is an eye-opening resource, perfect for anyone responsible for sustainability or climate change initiatives at their organisations, NGOs or regulatory agencies. It is also a must-read for academics, managers, participants and practitioners of Six Sigma and Operational Excellence. 

Chapter 1
Climate Change Challenges

‘What humans do over the next 50 years will determine the fate of all life on the planet.’

– David Attenborough

1.1. Introduction

‘Climate change’ as a scientific term may well sound quite tame and vernacular, and possibly does not convey a sufficient sense of urgency. It becomes confusing when scientists additionally talk about ice ages and other natural changes to the climate that have occurred throughout the history of our planet. The term ‘global warming’ has also been used as another phrase for the same thing, but, by contrast, this expression clearly imparts an unambiguous message concerning the imminent danger posed to humans and other living objects on earth.

What is beyond dispute is that the earth's temperature is rising, and even growth of two degrees centigrade would melt the ice sheets of the Polar Regions, resulting in a sea level increase of many metres. I have to admit that in the context of discussions regarding our future well-being I do prefer the term ‘global warming’. However, as ‘climate change’ is the official term being used by the United Nations (e.g. UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change and IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change), I shall also use this phrase primarily to express the impact of global warming.

The world is producing 51 Gigatons or 51 billion tons of greenhouse gases every year. These greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), water vapour (H₂O) and ozone (O₃), as shown in Table 1.1.

Carbon dioxide has been found to be the most important greenhouse gas related to global warming. It constitutes 82% of all greenhouse gases and stays in the atmosphere for a long time. Recent studies have shown that 75% of carbon will not disappear for a time calculated to be between centuries to thousands of years while the other 25% will stay with us forever. Methane causes many times more warming, molecule for molecule, than carbon dioxide when it reaches the atmosphere, but methane does not stay in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide. In addition, man-made (anthropogenic) activities are creating a serious global warming crisis that could last far longer than we ever thought possible – unless we act immediately.

Let us consider the basic principle involved here. A greenhouse is made of glass to allow sunlight to pass through and warm the air inside. The heat is trapped by the glass and the interior becomes warmer and warmer. We experience this so-called ‘greenhouse effect’ when our cars are parked in the sun and their interiors can become much hotter than the external temperature. Greenhouse gases work in a similar fashion but on a massive scale to increase the earth's temperature; hence this familiar term. Carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere for a long time and trap the heat that would otherwise escape to the atmosphere, thus causing the earth's temperature to climb.

Table 1.1 Greenhouse gases

SOURCE: US EPA (2019).

Greenhouse Gases	Percentages
Carbon dioxide	82
Methane	10
Nitrous oxide	6
Others	2

Let us now examine how much the earth's temperature is rising and why this is causing serious concern.

As carbon dioxide commands the lion's share of greenhouse gases, the emission of all gases is expressed as a carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂ e).

1.2. The Earth's Temperature Is Rising

Greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, have increased gradually since 1840 and dramatically since 1950, as shown in Figure 1.1.

Sunlight passes...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• About the Author
• Chapter 1: Climate Change Challenges
• Chapter 2: International and National Climate Change Initiatives
• Chapter 3: The Evolution of Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma and Green Six Sigma
• Chapter 4: More of Green Six Sigma
• Chapter 5: Green Six Sigma Tools
• Chapter 6: The Digital Revolution and Climate Change
• Chapter 7: Green Six Sigma and Clean Energy
• Chapter 8: Green Six Sigma and Green Supply Chain
• Chapter 9: Green Six Sigma and Green Transport
• Chapter 10: Green Six Sigma and Retrofitting Buildings
• Chapter 11: Green Six Sigma and Climate Adaptation
• Chapter 12: Implementation: Making It Happen
• Appendix 1: Carbon Footprint Factsheet
• Appendix 2: Yield Conversion Table
• References
• Glossary
• Index
• End User License Agreement