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International Finance Corporation Launches Carbon Impacts Tracer
Climate scientists and environmental researchers introduce an open-source spatial modelling framework called the Carbon Impacts Tracer (CIT). The framework is developed by the International Finance Corporation, World Group, and is reported for its use in quantifying mine-linked climate, health, and biodiversity impacts.
Carbon Impacts Tracer:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Aim | The framework provides for isolating an individual mine’s spatial footprint to forecast site-specific environmental and public health externalities over its projected operational lifespan. |
| Integrated modelling | The framework comprises integrated multi-pollutant modelling. |
| Global climate impact quantification | The framework provides for quantifying cumulative direct CO2 emissions and fugitive methane (CH4) emissions generated during extraction and subsequent coal combustion. |
| Localized health externalities modelling | The framework provides for modelling atmospheric dispersion of fine particulate matter (PM5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) down to a 1 km grid to estimate premature mortality, respiratory hospitalizations, and lost workdays in surrounding communities. |
| Biodiversity valuation inputs and outputs | The framework provides for integrating satellite land-use data to measure forest canopy loss, groundwater table depletion, and habitat fragmentation caused by surface mining and overburden dumps. |
| Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) linkage | The framework provides for combining hyper-local public health risks with global carbon accounting to authorise a basis for regulatory bodies to review Environmental Clearances. |
| Climate litigation use | The framework provides for verifiable, site-specific evidentiary data for judicial review in national green tribunals and environmental courts. |
| Accountability mechanism | The framework provides for assigning measurable, financialized social costs to individual fossil fuel extraction assets. |
| Just transition policy use | The framework provides for identifying high-risk mining projects where localized human health costs and ecological damage far outweigh short-term economic benefits, facilitating prioritized phase-outs. |