It is well known that anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas emissions are the major reason that Climate Change is happening. Although we know that our activities produce GHG emissions, we do little to reduce them. In fact, GHG emissions are still on the increase. According to the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report, Summary for Policy makers 2013 (AR5), since 1990 the global carbon emissions have risen 50%. Especially CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes contributed about 78% of the total GHG emission increase from 1970 to 2010. It is also well known that the consequences of climate change will be devastating for the environment and humans (e.g., extreme weather events, rise of sea level, decrease of biodiversity etc.,).
Economic growth and business activity is one of the most important drivers of increases in CO2 emissions and therefore climate change. Immediate action is required from companies in order to reduce their GHG emissions and thus the overall GHG emissions in the atmosphere. Recently many CEO’s and Board’s have catalyzed many significant carbon reduction projects, with 93% of multinationals now addressing their own carbon emissions in order to exploit reputational and efficiency gains.
CO2balance offers GHG Audits following the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Corporate Standard, which is the most widely used international accounting tool to help businesses to understand, quantify, and manage their greenhouse gas emissions.
GHG Audits
GHG audit can be considered as the first step toward emission reductions in the business environment. Organisations and companies can conduct GHG audits and therefore measure their current carbon footprint. Its a very easy way for companies to firstly quantify and be aware of their energy use and the GHG emissions produced by their overall activities and secondly, design a strategy and examine different options in order to reduce their emissions. Many companies recently have saved significant costs and achieved efficiency targets through measurement and reporting of their GHG Emissions. Figure 1 below shows the hierarchy for managing GHG emissions.
Figure 1: Modified from the “The carbon management hierarchy” (Burtis, 2008).
CO2balance have designed the scope of the CarbonZero® Package, to suit the needs of companies across the business spectrum from SMEs, to large multi-national clients. The package includes a holistic approach of measurement, management and offset Greenhouse Gas Emissions by carbon credits issued from the development of projects in developing countries. Additionally to the reduction of your GHG emissions, when you offset your unavoidable emissions with CO2balance you contribute in positive impacts in Africa. This is because the money funds community projects that reduce emissions as well as promote local social, environmental and economic benefits.
Drive positive impacts in Africa through offsetting
Improved efficiency cook stoves projects reduce the need for firewood and the volume of harmful smoke families are exposed to. In addition, it reduces deforestation through less demand of firewood and reduces families’ cost of buying wood. The community borehole projects provide clean, safe drinking water for hundreds of families as well as reducing carbon emissions as water no longer has to be boiled to make it safe to drink. Normally women and young people have to walk, often for hours, to find clean water and wood then carry it back on their heads. With so many of their daylight hours focused on gathering water, inevitably their fields are neglected and the harvest affected. Alternatively, they might choose to collect water from rivers or wells, probably dirty and infected with water-borne disease. By having a water point located closer to many of these hardships are avoided and in turn, women and especially girls have more time to pursue other activities, such as income generation and education. Moreover, clean water will reduce incidences of illness which will reduce medical costs but also decrease the number of days people miss from work and school.
Photo from Borehole Project in Uganda
A woman uses the Carbon Zero Stove in Meru, Kenya
By adopt CO2balance’s package you will:
- manage to reduce your energy consumption ;
- tackle climate change by going Carbon zero®;
- help support thousands of people across rural African communities, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique and Sierra Leone through your carbon offset.
Find more details in : http://www.co2balance.com/working-with-co2balance/greenhouse-gas-audits.php?cid=1&ref=6yp795f7is3vcfwc
Sources:
IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), Summary for Policy makers http://www.climatechange2013.org/images/report/WG1AR5_SPM_FINAL.pdf
Burtis, B. and Watt, I. (2008) “Getting to Zero: Defining Corporate Carbon Neutrality.” Clean Air-Cool Planet and Forum for the Future. Portsmouth, NH. Accessed June 2008. www.cleanair-coolplanet.org
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