Funding Solutions to the Climate Emergency
Most of us want to see climate change alleviated as soon possible. However many businesses struggle with their own pace of change and the amount they can actually reduce - it's rare that an organisation can have zero emissions on its own.
To tackle climate change on the sort of timescale that we need requires rapid decarbonisation of national grids and increased sequestration of CO2 from the atmosphere (e.g. within our rainforests).
Carbon offsetting programmes provide just that and here we examine the latest developments in these projects and how you can be part of the solution.
|
|
 Net Zero Carbon - The Only Way forward
The UK is now committed to Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050 and many other developed geographies are following suit/declaring a climate emergency. It still remains to be seen how the UK will deliver this and take these words and turn them into robust actions to deliver these promises.
As businesses, achieving Net Zero Carbon Emissions when you are duty bound to deliver value to your shareholders and customers might seem tricky. However, we also know that consumers are incredibly uneasy about use of providers who are not environmentally responsible and may even drop you from their PQQ/tender.
To achieve Net Zero now, your organisation needs to adapt the carbon management process in the following order:
- Measure (the organisation's carbon footprint)
- Carbon Offset (compensate the emissions damage already done)
- Reduce emissions (in-house)
Our recent Sustainable Business Network Workshop focused on Setting Climate Change Targets for Your Business and the slides can be found here.
Is carbon offsetting a 'cop-out'? - Absolutely not! We all need to mitigate the emissions we currently produce in whatever way we can and carbon offsetting is a great way to compensate our current environmental impact. Moreover, climate change is a global issue (1 tonne CO2 in Manchester is the same as 1 tonne CO2 in Mumbai). Carbon offsetting projects, which are commonly large scale decarbonisation projects that deliver crucial emissions reductions around the globe.
|
|
 New Carbon Offsetting Projects
The Gold Standard Cookstoves Project for North Darfur Women is an incredible carbon offsetting project that not only reduces carbon emissions, but also improves livelihoods in one of the world's poorest countries - Sudan.
During the last four decades Greater Darfur was severely hit by repetitive droughts and famines, creating unstable living conditions in the region. Furthermore, about one half of the total population of Darfur, or 3.45 million people, have been directly affected by the conflict that started in 2003, through violence, displacement and degraded livelihoods.
This project replaces 3-stone fires with EzyStove, enabling a 40% reduction in wood usage which - so far - has offset over 20,000 tonnes of CO2. Moreover, this project is the first of its kind in Sudan as it is supported by both the Women Development Association Network and the UN World Food Programme.
Contact us to find out more about how your organisation can fund this fantastic project and achieve Net Zero Carbon emissions.
|
|
 2019 Christmas Tree Campaign - Protecting the Amazon
Trees are widely accepted as the Lungs of the Earth - nature's own carbon capture and storage devices. Beyond this, of course, they support much of our planet's biodiversity and enhance our mental well-being. Trees are still being destroyed and our rainforests are endangered, with around the size of a football pitch disappearing from the Amazon Rainforest every day.
Our UK and Kenya Tree Planting programmes are both 'buddied' with our Protecting the Amazon project - meaning that for every tree planted, 1 tonne CO2 is saved (by preserving existing trees in the Amazon Rainforest).
Even if your organisation is already offsetting its carbon, we encourage you to support these vital Plant A Tree - Protect A Tree projects - perhaps instead of your corporate Christmas cards or seasonal promotional items.
As well as supporting these great projects, you will be able to download a Plant A Tree - Protect A Tree logo and content for use on web/email and social media.
Don't forget to also check out the Interactive Tree Map which demonstrates the great support we have been receiving. Since 2017, we have planted over 95,000 trees in over 600 locations across the UK.
|
|
ESOS Phase 2 Deadline is 5 December - Make sure you Submit your Compliance to the Environment Agency
A final reminder to make sure you have completed your ESOS Phase 2 and your compliance declaration to the Environment Agency by 5 December.
|
|
|
|
|
