Tag Archives: climate crisis

News

Digital carbon footprint accounts for 3.7% of global greenhouse emissions; and it’s set to double.

ClimateCare, an organisation dedicated to tackling climate change and improving lives, has today launched its new carbon footprint of the internet infographic to raise awareness of the growing climate impact of the digital world.

The profit with purpose B Corp is launching its infographic as a means to educate and raise awareness amongst business leaders of how energy hungry the digital world is. ClimateCare noticed a growing trend across the business community of a mistaken belief that the pandemic would likely lower their emissions due to the lack of business-related travel. ClimateCare contends that whilst overall emissions have gone down, digital emissions due to the growth in digital devices, streaming and data centre use have gone up dramatically.

Some key stats from ClimateCare’s carbon footprint of the internet infographic include:

  • Over four billion people are active internet users.
  • Internet traffic has tripled since 2015.
  • The carbon footprint of our gadgets, the internet and the systems supporting them accounts for 3.7% of global greenhouse emissions. These emissions are predicted to double by 2025.
  • This is approximately 1.7 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year and equates to more than the climate footprint of all the cars on the road in the UK and US combined for a year[i]. .Streaming video and audio are the biggest drivers of explosive data growth, making up 63% of global internet traffic.

Vaughan Lindsay, CEO of ClimateCare, explains: “In our rush to stream video calls, send emails, store data and update our social media posts, we’ve lost sight of how energy-hungry the digital industry really is. We need to understand that the internet and digital technology involves far more than just the energy required to run our devices. Rather, the storing of data (the cloud), is one of the worst offenders of all. Far from being invisible, the cloud and the technical components to run it, generate extremely high emissions.”

ClimateCare advocates that businesses of all sizes need to start taking responsibility for their entire carbon footprint in order to achieve a Net Zero position. This involves measuring and reducing everything from business travel, considering energy use at the office, and understanding and reducing our digital footprint.

Lindsay explains how a business can go about this: “At its most basic, this is a process with a hierarchy of actions. To start with a business will need to measure their emissions to understand what their entire footprint is, and this includes their employees working from home too. Once they understand what this footprint looks like they must reduce and eliminate what they can. And, whilst they do this, offset what remains, through high quality carbon reduction projects.”

ClimateCare offers 10 top tips for businesses and employees to reduce their digital footprint:

  1. Switch off auto play when using social media and avoid using video if you only need audio;
  2. Close tabs you are not using to avoid videos playing in the background;
  3. Limit how often you use reply all to emails;
  4. Unsubscribe from newsletters you don’t need to receive;
  5. Shut down your computer if you are away from it for more than two hours;
  6. Consider storing your data on a green cloud provider;
  7. Dim your monitor. Dimming from 100% to 70% can save up to 20% of the energy the monitor uses;
  8. Be mindful that, even in sleep mode, a computer continues to burn energy;
  9. Hold onto IT equipment for as long as possible and get it repaired rather than buying a new device;
  10.  Be selective about the tech providers you work with and take time to review their environmental policies and actions.

Lindsay concludes: “Ultimately the energy used in our digital consumption collectively emits the equivalent amount of carbon as the entire airline industry[ii]; a fact that until recently has remained unnoticed. Businesses need to start taking responsibility for this now. Anything less than that is not a responsible position for a business today.”

To view ClimateCare’s infographic please click here: https://www.climatecare.org/resources/news/infographic-carbon-footprint-internet/

News

Eight Net Zero and carbon offset myths, busted

Carbon offsetting is a robust, immediate and measurable way for businesses to take responsibility for their current carbon footprint now, whilst on their journey to Net Zero. Yet many businesses are still reluctant to offset their carbon emissions. Why? Largely because of the many misconceptions that are out there around offsetting.

In this article, Vaughan Lindsay, CEO of ClimateCare wants to bust some of the myths that are currently out there regarding carbon offsetting to give your business the facts it needs as it journeys towards Net Zero.

  1. Offsetting won’t tackle climate change

Certainly, offsetting alone will not tackle climate change. However, as experts around the world agree, it is an essential part of our journey to Net Zero. Most companies will not be able to reach Net Zero without it as there will always be some stubborn or hard to address residual emissions.

We need to move to a low-carbon world as quickly as possible. But even in the best-case scenario, this transition will take time. As such, while we work on reducing our emissions (often involving long term systemic changes to decarbonise existing business models) , we need to do something about the carbon emissions we are producing today. Funding  an equivalent amount of carbon emissions reductions through voluntary carbon offsetting is an effective way to take responsibility for this carbon footprint and buys us time  while we develop new processes and technology to reduce it.

Organisations like WWF, SBTi, Oxford University, the UN and the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets, all agree that carbon offsetting plays a vital role on our journey to Net Zero. The conversation has moved on from ‘should companies offset emissions?’, to ‘how should companies offset emissions?’.

  1. Carbon offsetting is a step by step process

 Companies need to take full responsibility for all the emissions they produce both today and tomorrow. On the journey to Net Zero, a business will need to measure and disclose their emissions and set a science based target for reduction. Businesses need to take action to reduce their emissions in line with what the science says is needed and then offset what is left- their residual emissions. It’s not a step by step process, the key is actually to drive actions simultaneously and at pace, and then modify and adjust moving forward.

In short, we are up against a deadline to tackle climate change, and there isn’t time to take things one step at a time. Ultimately, it is today’s emissions that are causing tomorrow’s climate change and we need organisations to take full responsibility by offsetting their carbon emissions right now.

  1. Offsetting is just a guilt free way to carry on emitting

The key here is for companies to set and deliver against carbon reduction targets, as well as offset their emissions. It’s not either/ or, it’s both/and.

The climate emergency is urgent, and we need to do everything in our power to tackle it collaboratively. And the truth is, businesses who offset emissions are putting a voluntary tax on their carbon pollution that will only increase over time. This helps focus the whole business on reducing this cost through reduction and also (perhaps most importantly) initiates behaviour changes from the top. In fact, research shows that the typical offset buyer cut almost 17% of their scope 1 (direct) emissions, while the typical non-offset buyer reduced scope 1 emissions by less than 5% in the same year.

  1. Working from home means our footprint is low

It’s not just air travel or commuting you need to think about when it comes to your carbon footprint. In fact, digital footprint is a growing problem, especially in light of the pandemic. In our rush to stream, send emails, run video calls, store data and update our social media posts, we’ve lost sight of how energy-hungry the digital industry really is.

The internet and digital technology involve far more than just the energy required to run our devices. Rather, the storing of data, otherwise known to us all as ‘the cloud’, is one of the worst offenders of all. Far from being invisible, the cloud and the technical components to run it, generate extremely high emissions.

The carbon footprint of our gadgets, the internet and the systems supporting them accounts for 3.7% of global greenhouse emissions, similar to that of the airline industry. And these emissions are predicted to double by 2025 too.

  1. Going climate neutral is just for CSR

Over the past two years, there has been a substantial shift in how many corporations think about the impact they are having on the environment. An increasing public awareness of climate change and changing consumer behaviours has catalysed this shift, which when combined with pressures coming from investors and Governments, has driven increasing climate ambition and action in the investment space. So much so in fact, that companies that have previously engaged with climate change mitigation mainly due to corporate social responsibility (CSR) are now beginning to see it as a business critical issue.

Going Climate Neutral can deliver a range of business benefits – from demonstrating environmental credentials and building customer confidence in your brand, to improving staff engagement with your broader sustainability programmes. It can even deliver business growth opportunities – building resilience in supply chains, supporting growth in key markets and helping to launch new products and services. As Mark Carney has previously stated, “firms that align their business models to the transition to a carbon-neutral world will be rewarded handsomely; those that fail to adapt will cease to exist.”

  1. Offsetting is too expensive

 Here’s one myth we can’t bust, because frankly, offsetting should be expensive. This is to reflect the true cost of climate change. Currently companies are able to pollute our climate at no cost. Companies that choose to offset their emissions are effectively putting a price on carbon for their business.

Putting carbon emissions on the balance sheet focuses attention on the issue, helping drive internal reductions, justify investment into new, low carbon busines models and will demonstrate behavioural change.

Offset project costs vary greatly depending upon their location, scale and the approach they use to reducing emissions. Accordingly, carbon credits prices in the voluntary carbon markets mostly fall within a range from about £3-5 per tonne at the lower end to £25 per tonne at the higher end.

Over time, as more companies move to become Net Zero, we expect to see the price of carbon rising and we’re encouraging companies to think ahead and work with a partner who can develop a long term offset strategy for their business. This can include new project development to manage long term price risk.

  1. SMEs are too small to offset

It’s not the size of your business, but the size of your carbon footprint that counts. Any business, no matter what size it is, can make a difference in tackling the climate crisis and work towards becoming Net Zero. Climate change is the single biggest issue that the world faces today, and we all have to play our part.

The UK Government has legislated to achieve Net Zero for the UK as a whole by 2050. Reducing emissions to Net Zero by 2030 gives us a better chance of keeping warming within the 1.5 degree target set out under the Paris Agreement. Multiple companies, of all sizes, have pledged to achieve Net Zero by 2030 and are currently considering how they can also influence their customers and supply chain to reduce their emissions too.

  1. Going climate neutral is the same as Net Zero

Going Climate Neutral today is a way for companies to take immediate action whilst they set themselves on course to meet their longer-term Net Zero target.

Going Climate Neutral by offsetting all emissions through high quality, independently verified carbon reduction (avoidance and removal) projects is the only way a company can take full responsibility for its current carbon footprint. This is because going Climate Neutral today compensates for a company’s existing carbon footprint immediately. This status should then be maintained whilst the firm takes steps to reduce its emissions as close to zero as possible, in line with a Science Based Target. In time the size of that company’s footprint will reduce and the amount they need to compensate for will reduce. The organisation will become Net Zero when it reaches its science-based carbon reduction target and compensates for all its remaining emissions through carbon removals projects.

They could then even go as far to work towards becoming carbon negative and take even more of a competitive share.

In busting these myths, it’s our aim to empower businesses of all sizes, to take responsibility for their climate impacts. Because we all need to step up and take action today. It’s today’s emissions that are causing tomorrow’s climate change and we need organisations to take full responsibility for them right now.

Climate, News

ClimateCare accredited as the UK’s first CDP Carbon Reduction Partner

ClimateCare is delighted to have been recognised as the UK’s first CDP accredited Carbon Reduction Partner. More than 250 UK companies publicly disclosed their Scope 1 and 2 emissions through CDP in 2020, totalling 191 million tCO2e. ClimateCare’s expert team, will help these companies by encouraging science-based targets for emissions reductions and ensuring they take full responsibility for their carbon footprint too.

Paul Robins, CDP’s Head of Partnerships, said of the announcement: “We’re delighted to welcome on board ClimateCare as our first accredited carbon reduction partner in the UK. With their experience in helping organisations take responsibility for their climate impact by financing, developing, and managing carbon reduction projects across the world, we are confident their services will be very valuable to companies responding to CDP. We know that carbon offsetting is not a silver bullet for tackling climate change. But when done right, and when carried out alongside businesses doing all they can to reduce their emissions, it can form an important part of an effective climate or carbon management strategy.”

ClimateCare’s, innovative and highly respected Climate+Care approach ensures that its clients can offset their emissions through the highest quality verified carbon reduction projects, delivering robust, emission reductions, as well as measurable sustainable development impacts.

Zelda Bentham, Group Head of Sustainability at Aviva explains:
“We’re delighted to see that ClimateCare has been accredited by CDP and is reaching out to help other CDP reporting companies take full responsibility for their reported carbon footprint. We have reported emissions through CDP since 2001 and are proud to be the first major insurer worldwide to target Net Zero carbon by 2040. We have worked with the experts at ClimateCare for over two decades now. Their projects not only deliver verified emissions reductions, but do so in a best practice way that is good for the environment and local communities too. As we work towards our Net Zero target, ClimateCare will continue to enable us to take responsibility for our carbon footprint right now and plan for the future – both by purchasing carbon credits to offset our emissions and by investing in new carbon reduction project development.”

Vaughan Lindsay, CEO of ClimateCare, said: “It is great to see firms working hard to measure their footprint and disclose this publicly. However, many firms still say that they are waiting to get their carbon reduction plans right before they take action to compensate for their existing emissions. This remains a concern as these long-term targets do little for the environmental damage that is being done right now. We are therefore delighted to be able to reach out to companies who have already demonstrated climate awareness by reporting their emissions to CDP, and help them take immediate action to compensate for their emissions and take full responsibility for their climate impacts by going Climate Neutral. We look forward to helping them on their journey to Net Zero.”

Climate, Environment, News

Building back better post pandemic and the urgent need for action over pledges

By Vaughan Lindsay, CEO, ClimateCare

Not only has the Covid-19 pandemic affected our health and personal lives, but it has also and indeed continues to, fundamentally challenge our political, social, and economic norms. Most notably it has impacted how many businesses think about tackling the big issues like climate change. In this article we will talk about the similarities (and differences) between tackling Covid -19 and the climate crisis. We will also discuss how, as we emerge out of lockdown, we will need to start to re-tool in order to build back better, rather than simply restarting the engines. There has never been more of a need for real action, right now to tackle climate change.

Covid-19 vs climate change

The parallels between the Coronavirus response and how we could all collaboratively tackle the climate crisis should not be overlooked. Tackling either problem, for instance, has changed our lifestyle in so many ways. In short, we have all have to make adaptations for a much longer-term gain. I also believe that the pandemic has highlighted to us all that we can live differently; indeed, that we are all incredibly adaptable.

Nevertheless, there are also some very important differences too; namely the speed in which we witness effects and how long we will all live with the impact. Covid-19 is more immediate, it’s on everyone’s minds (no matter how fatigued we all are by the topic after a year of living with it). Climate change, on the other hand, feels like a much longer-term threat which doesn’t invoke the same kind of unease or fear – or at least not enough for people to take immediate action. Yet, as Mark Carney so eloquently summed up recently, the world is heading for mortality rates equivalent to the Covid crisis every year by mid-century unless action is taken right now. “One of the biggest issues is you cannot self-isolate from climate,” he said. “That is not an option. We cannot retreat in and wait out climate change, it will just get worse.” Bill Gates also further highlighted the severity of the situation too when he recently commented that solving climate change would be “the most amazing thing humanity has ever done” and by comparison, ending the pandemic is “very, very easy”, the billionaire founder of Microsoft claimed.

An active response

Ultimately, the short-term imperative of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic doesn’t alter the urgency of dealing with the climate crisis. And certainly, there is currently no ‘silver bullet’ for solving either the pandemic or climate change. However, there are a set of agreed actions that every business and individual can (and should) take to help tackle these issues.

For Covid-19 it’s about working from home, social distancing, washing our hands and wearing masks to protect one another and the NHS. And of course, continuing to roll out the vaccines and treatments for longer term protection.

For climate change, it’s about understanding and taking responsibility for our climate impact, both by changing our behaviour to reduce our carbon footprint and by decarbonising many of our business models and lifestyles. .

Building back better

If we are indeed going to ‘build back better’ then we need to work towards a sustainable low or zero carbon recovery, and this needs to be done with realism and integrity. Not only does this mean that we need to work together to create integrated and robust climate strategies, but we also need to take action to decarbonise sooner rather than later and while we make these structural changes, we need to ensure that we are compensating for all residual emissions as part of everyday business too.

Action over pledges

Last year, and despite the pandemic, it was encouraging to see the ever-increasing number of corporates committing to achieve Net Zero status. However, whilst it is great to see firms working hard to measure their footprint and set reduction targets, many firms still admitted to us that they are waiting to get this right before they take action to reduce and compensate for their emissions. This remains a concern. Because, whilst these plans and long-term targets are commendable, they do little for the environmental damage that is being done right now. There is a risk of action hiding behind plans.
Ultimately, we need to more than halve emissions by 2030; this is equivalent to reducing the current emissions of China, India, the EU and the US combined. It’s a mammoth task. To tackle it we need to drive actions simultaneously and at pace, and then modify and adjusting moving forward. In simple terms, there really isn’t time to take things one step at a time anymore. We need to take action right away. As such – and as we continue through this coming year – we need to see more of these ambitious plans and statements put into practice, as companies continue to turn their plans (and pledges) into action.

Raising the bar

The issue of climate change is now central to nearly all forward-thinking corporates and we are now witnessing one of most encouraging environments for them to act on this. It’s vital to ensure that the role of the voluntary carbon market delivers real additional emission reductions on the ground and at scale.

Never before has there been a better time to raise the bar and our own ambitions about what positive corporate action looks like. Because the climate will not respond to targets and pledges. Only action counts.

Climate, Insurance, News

Direct Line Group Goes Carbon Neutral

As part of Direct Line Group’s commitment to take responsibility for its environmental impact, the Group is proud to announce that it is now carbon neutral through offsetting. This commitment is part of its three-step strategy to significantly reduce its carbon footprint year on year:

Step one: Disclose to track progress

We will disclose the Group’s carbon footprint including, for the first time, scope 3 emissions excluding investments. Once the work has been completed to calculate the investment portfolio, the Group intends to disclose the Group’s total footprint across Scope 1, 2 and 3. Ahead of many other organisations, Direct Line Group will be releasing their first TCFD disclosure in December, further strengthening the Group’s climate transparency reporting.

Step two: Commit to tangible actions

This year the Group committed to set Science Based Targets (SBT) for Scope 1, 2 and 3 and aims to submit those for approval within the 2 years’ timeframe set out by the SBTI. On Scope 1 and 2, the Group intends to set a target so that it can play its part in holding off some of the worst climate impacts, and avoid irreversible damage, by holding the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Step three: Offset while we reduce

The Group has partnered with ClimateCare to make a long-term, three-year commitment to offset those emissions under its operational control whilst working towards reducing emissions over time. This includes Scope 1 and 2 emissions and the Scope 3 activities under its direct control. This carbon neutral programme sees emissions offset through three high-impact projects that reduce carbon and support communities for a cleaner future:

Rainforest protection, Brazil

Deforestation continues to affect the Amazon, which produces more than 20 per cent of the world’s oxygen and contains 44,000 plant and animal species. This project cuts carbon emissions by reducing deforestation across 350,000 hectares of the Portel micro region of the Amazon rainforest. It does this by training and educating local communities in alternative agroforestry methods. The project reduces slash and burn agriculture, which has been one of the largest contributors to deforestation, provides access to official land titles for native families, and provides key habitat for more than 30 vulnerable species.

Water filters, Kenya

Fewer than half of Kenyans have access to safe drinking water, collecting it from open rivers, streams and other unsafe sources – leaving families vulnerable to disease. To counter this, the Aqua Clara project distributes safe water filters for families. As well as delivering health impacts, the project also reduces the need for people to boil water to make it safe to drink, which requires the burning of unsustainable energy sources such as wood or charcoal. This reduced reliance on fuel wood reduces family expenditure and reduces pressure on forests, as well as cutting carbon emissions. The team at Aqua Clara provides education and maintenance services to ensure that the filters are used correctly and remain operational.

Clean cookstoves, Bangladesh

Less than 20 per cent of the 35 million Bangladeshi households have access to clean cooking methods. Instead, cooking is done using traditional “three-stone” fires, which burn inefficiently, contributing to 49,000 premature deaths per year from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases caused by indoor air pollution. The Bondhu Chula project works with entrepreneurs to manufacture and distribute clean cookstoves. These cookstoves not only cut carbon emissions, but also funnel harmful pollutants – released during burning – out of the home, reducing indoor air pollution and improving health.

Penny James, CEO, Direct Line Group said:
“We are committed to a greener future but we know also that we cannot make change happen overnight. We see becoming a carbon neutral company as a significant step towards both protecting our business from the impact of climate change and giving back more to the planet than we take out. But we are also very clear that the goal we are working towards is reducing our emissions year on year so that we can be carbon neutral without the need to offset.”

ClimateCare’s Director of Partnerships, Robert Stevens explains:
“We work with forward-thinking organisations to turn their climate responsibilities into positive outcomes. Our trademark Climate+Care approach helps organisations take a smart approach to addressing their environmental impacts by offsetting their carbon emissions through projects which also support sustainable development.”

Climate, News

Why a step by step process to Net Zero is not enough

Oliver Forster, head of business development at ClimateCare

It’s encouraging to see an ever-increasing number of corporates committing to achieve Net Zero status. However, amidst the rush to publicly declare this intention, there remains some debate and discussion about what constitutes a robust and practical corporate strategy for achieving Net Zero.

When talking to clients, they often say that they are working hard to measure their footprint and set reduction targets, but admit that they are waiting to get this right before they take action to reduce and compensate for their emissions. And certainly, whilst these provisional steps are much needed, setting these long-term targets does little for the environmental damage being done right now. Companies need to take full responsibility for all their emissions produced both today and tomorrow. Our advice therefore is to drive actions simultaneously and at pace, and then modify and adjust moving forward. Put simply, we are up against a deadline to tackle climate change, and there isn’t time to take things one step at a time. Ultimately, it is today’s emissions that are causing tomorrow’s climate change and we need organisations to take full responsibility for their carbon emissions right now.

We need to more than halve emissions by 2030; this is equivalent to reducing the current emissions of China, India, the EU and the US combined. To make this happen, we need to use every tool in the box and do it quickly. And whilst this may seem daunting for many corporates, we cannot stress enough that this is achievable. Not only that, if they do get this right, they could well find themselves at a competitive advantage.

First off, companies will need to understand their current emissions. There are multiple ways to do this and third party companies such as The Carbon Trust can be a great help in getting this detail. Ultimately understanding the footprint is the first step in driving change and by doing this upfront work, companies are raising awareness of the issue internally.

After this these companies can then set targets for reduction that are based on science. The SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) can help a company set appropriate targets. However, this can take time. And it’s time, that sadly, we just don’t have.

As such, during this time, companies should identify and action quick wins too. For instance, they might put an internal price on carbon to focus minds and drive innovation. They might also source as much of their energy as possible from renewable sources, and they might engage their whole team in making immediate reductions and in developing plans for systematic change to reach their reduction targets. All of these are great mechanisms to drive change and raise awareness.

In addition, companies can also consider developing low carbon products or business models. These can help turn climate change from a risk into a competitive business strategy. A recent survey by B Lab UK and ReGenerate revealed that 72% of the UK population believe business have a legal responsibility to the planet and people, alongside maximising profits. As such, we can be sure that it does make real business sense to do this and can make the difference between a consumer buying from a brand or not. And actually, it can also make the difference between a great candidate deciding to work for a company and a firm retaining great talent.

We would contend that offsetting shouldn’t be the final tick on the checklist. Instead we would suggest that firms can take responsibility right away by offsetting their current carbon emissions, whilst they put plans in place for reduction.

For companies to go Climate Neutral by offsetting all emissions through high quality, independently verified carbon reduction (avoidance and removal) projects, is an important component in the journey to Net Zero. It’s something every business can do today. And it’s the only way a company can take full responsibility for its current carbon footprint. This is because going Climate Neutral today compensates for a company’s existing carbon footprint immediately. This status should then be maintained whilst the firm takes steps to reduce its emissions as close to zero as possible, in line with a SBT. In time the size of that company’s footprint will reduce and the amount they need to compensate for will reduce. The organisation will become Net Zero when it reaches its science-based carbon reduction target and compensates for all its remaining emissions. They could then even go as far to work towards becoming carbon negative and take even more of a competitive share.

In going Climate Neutral today, companies can take immediate action right now, whilst they set themselves on course to meet their longer-term Net Zero target. Avoiding the climate catastrophe is not a step by step process, rather it’s a whole host of actions that need to be taken both simultaneously and immediately.