Carbon Emission

Startup fills climate data gap with AI intelligence to boost decarbonisation

Szilvia Szabó — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 16:17:43 +0000

Startup fills climate data gap with AI intelligence to boost decarbonisation

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Carbon Emission

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Carbon Management

Despite the skyrocketing number of net-zero emission pledges set by countries, companies, and other entities, greenhouse gas emissions still need to be reduced by 43 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 globally, according to the United Nations' latest figures.

While carbon management is becoming increasingly a core business activity, collecting and analysing data presents challenges since emissions must be tracked across direct, indirect and value chain activities as these inputs are classified as Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in reporting systems.

Lara Obst, Co-Founder and Chief Climate Officer at ClimateChoice, a Berlin-based climate tech company, highlights that supply chain emissions typically account for over 80 per cent of a company’s total carbon footprint.

“We chose to focus on Scope 3 emissions because they represent a significant but often overlooked part of the decarbonisation journey,” she explains, adding that this area is a critical blind spot for many organisations.

Co-Founders of climate tech startup, ClimateChoice: Dr. Rey Farhan, Lara Obst and Yasha Tarani (left to right)

“With upcoming regulations like the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requiring over 50,000 companies to report and address Scope 3 emissions starting in 2025, taking action is no longer optional — it’s essential.”

ClimateChoice provides an AI-first climate intelligence platform specifically designed for procurement and climate teams to empower businesses to accelerate Scope 3 decarbonisation through informed climate choices.

Lara had her “climate aha moment” in 2014 when studying the IPCC* report, which made her realise that 50% of global emissions are concentrated in just eight international supply chains.

She says this recognition fuels her daily work since she firmly believes that addressing this area can transform an overwhelming challenge into a manageable one.

“Our goal is to empower sustainability and procurement leaders with the tools and support they need to overcome these complexities and achieve their Scope 3 reduction targets.

This involves gathering data from hundreds or thousands of suppliers, assessing their climate maturity, accelerating sustainable procurement processes, and implementing structured decarbonisation roadmaps.”

Climate data management presents various challenges, as Lara describes that decision-makers struggle with insufficient input on supplier emissions and climate efforts, which leads to a lack of transparency.

Relying on manual methods like emails and Excel sheets also makes data collection inefficient and prone to errors, slowing progress. In addition, suppliers are often overwhelmed by repetitive requests and unclear processes, leading to lower participation and slower adoption of climate initiatives.

“Our platform automates data collection from publicly available sources, such as sustainability reports, websites and other databases, to create initial climate profiles for suppliers. Companies can then invite their suppliers to enrich these profiles, avoiding the need to start from scratch,”

Lara explains what makes ClimatChoice unique.

“This approach eliminates inefficiencies, enhances transparency, and fosters effective supplier engagement, setting the stage for collaborative decarbonisation efforts.”

ClimateChoice is building a global network of climate-conscious businesses, already having users from over 140 countries, and expanding its reach through an expert-led peer learning initiative, which currently includes 40 leading companies.

One of their recent collaborations with global tech giant Lenovo demonstrates the power of joint climate action through innovative, data-centric approaches as they engaged the multinational company`s international network in decarbonisation efforts.

Leveraging their AI-driven data platform, Lara and her team first analysed a vast amount of public data, typically covering over 100 detailed data points per supplier, to create individualised ClimateChoice Scorecards for each partner, followed by activating accounts that offered secure additional data sharing – including emission metrics, relevant initiatives and climate targets.

“This two-way data flow provided all participants with real-time climate performance benchmarks and tailored feedback, fostering transparency and collaboration across the supply chain,” Lara recalls.

“As a result, Lenovo achieved a Gold rating for climate leadership, while its partners collectively reached a Silver-equivalent rating.“

She adds that companies cannot comply with regulations, effectively track improvements, or build trust with stakeholders without accurate and transparent data, so ClimateChoice strives to turn transparency into action.

Apart from constantly developing and improving their platform, Lara shares that raising awareness and promoting the potential in managing Scope 3 emissions is also an important part of their work.

Winning the Green Startup Slam competition at the Greentech Festival (GTF) Los Angeles event in November was an outstanding opportunity for her to connect with sustainability leaders and impact investors overseas.

Reflecting on this achievement, Lara says: “Being able to share our mission on stage was already a highlight, but winning the competition against such innovative changemakers was beyond anything I anticipated.

This recognition reaffirms that we’re addressing a pressing global problem – one that resonates with many seeking impactful, scalable solutions.”

Lara Obst, Co-Founder and Chief Climate Officer at ClimateChoice pitching at the Green Startup Slam competition at the Greentech Festival (GTF) Los Angeles event in 2024.

Milestones like this further inspire ClimateChoice as a startup to continue driving meaningful action and contributing to the collective effort of turning climate ambitions into tangible results.

“The entire experience at GTF was very inspiring, and it reinforced the importance of knowledge sharing and global networks in achieving our shared climate goals.”

ClimateChoice also offers white papers such as the Scope 3 Strategy Canvas or the Best Practice Guide as part of their educational outreach, in addition to hosting learning programmes and fostering a community of practitioners.

Looking into the future, Lara shares: “Securing $2 million in funding in 2023 has enabled us to scale our platform across industries and geographies, significantly expanding global supply chain coverage. Our next big goal is establishing climate-smart supply chains as the industry standard, driving systemic change and accelerating decarbonisation at scale.”

* IPCC report - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change produces assesment reports on climate change

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The new buzz in offsetting: Blue Carbon

Szilvia Szabó — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:06:29 +0000

The new buzz in offsetting: Blue Carbon

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Just when businesses are starting to measure, reduce, and offset their carbon emissions, a new term has entered the realm of carbon management.

Blue carbon is simply a term that refers to the carbon captured by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems and has become a buzzword in the search for solutions to mitigate climate change.

How does underwater carbon capture work?

Mangroves, seagrass meadows, salt marshes and phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Some of this CO2 is converted into carbon in leaves, branches and other parts of the organism in much the same way as land-dwelling plants.

The difference is that marine habitats can sequester carbon up to 10 times faster than mature forests.

Below layers of coastal vegetation are thick carbon-rich sediments which have accumulated over time, often for hundreds or thousands of years. There are three main carbon-sinking habitats: Mangroves, Tidal Marshes, and Seagrass.

Example:

Verra registered its first blue carbon project in 2021: a mangrove conservation initiative called Vida Manglar (‘mangrove life’ in Spanish) situated on the north coast of Colombia.

The project is set to remove 1 million tonnes of CO2 over the next thirty years. Some income generated from carbon credit purchases will go towards sustainable development and improving local education and employment.

Blue carbon refers to the carbon captured by the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems. Image: Unsplash

Offsetting with added benefits

Blue carbon started to gain attention in 2009 when the United Nations published an influential report entitled Blue Carbon: The Role of Healthy Oceans in Binding Carbon.

Over 150 countries have blue carbon habitats within their borders, making their conservation and protection a global issue.

The Blue Carbon Initiative (BCI) is perhaps the flagship example of this type of multilateral collaboration.

This UNESCO-backed agency brings together research institutions, governments, NGOs, and stakeholder communities from around the world to tackle global warming through the sustainable management of blue carbon ecosystems at all levels.

The demand for carbon credits is likely to increase 15-fold by 2030.

Why is Blue Carbon so unique?

Mangroves and salt marshes remove carbon from the atmosphere at a rate ten times greater than tropical forests.
Seagrass meadows account for just 0.1 per cent of the world’s seafloor but store 11 per cent of the organic carbon buried in the ocean.
Mangroves and salt marshes store three to five times more carbon per acre than tropical forests.
83% of the global carbon cycle is circulated through the ocean.
Coastal habitats cover less than 2% of all ocean areas but account for about half of the total carbon sequestered in ocean sediments.

(Sources: The Blue Carbon Initiative; Office for Coastal Management NOAA)

Coastal communities are being struck especially hard by the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and disappearing fish stocks.

Blue carbon credits can provide these communities with crucial financial aid while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Blue carbon habitats are also extremely scarce – they only make up 2% of global ocean cover and are disappearing quickly –yet they support a vast range of economically and ecologically important species.

It is worth noting that some researchers are sceptical since determining carbon removal rates for marine ecosystems is far from an exact science – estimates can vary widely even along a single stretch of coast.

This makes it difficult to know precisely how effective any blue carbon restoration project will be in the longer term.

On a practical level, the Blue Carbon Projects works on REDD+ * Mangrove Project Development in Indonesia and Mexico, including coastal ecosystems of mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows. Indonesia’s mangroves are estimated to contain 3.14 billion metric tonnes of carbon, one-third of global coastal carbon stocks.

However, deforestation and the destruction of peatlands make Indonesia the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

There is great potential in exploring further opportunitities to utilise blue carbon in reaching net zero goals while keeping these rich ecosystems healthy.

*REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation

Image source: Blue Carbon Initiative

Headline image: Getty Images

This article is published in collaboration with the Profit with Purpose Magazine.

To read more insights regarding carbon management, you can download the latest digital edition of the magazine that further explores topics such as carbon offsetting, regulations and more.

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Can we rely on carbon offsetting to reach net-zero goals?

Szilvia Szabó — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 13:59:40 +0000

Can we rely on carbon offsetting to reach net-zero goals?

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Carbon offsetting is a method that enables companies, individuals, and countries to minimise their climate impact. An organisation or individual can purchase carbon credits to account for the carbon they emit due to their activities.

These carbon credits are obtained by investing in projects that reduce or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as tree planting, restoring natural ecosystems, and protecting forests.

Carbon offsetting enables business leaders to consider their carbon footprint as a form of accounting. Their emissions are then their expenditure, and the carbon offsets they purchase act as their revenue.

Essentially, businesses should try to break even yearly to transition to net zero.

The idea of carbon offsetting was created by the United Nations when they realised the challenge of reaching net zero at the Kyoto Protocol in 1992.

Verified and certified carbon credits are traded at the carbon market, allowing companies, governments, and other organisations to address their greenhouse gas emissions.

What offsetting offers isn’t bad: renewable energy for poor communities and tree planting are great initiatives.

However, some argue that they are a distraction from meaningful climate change solutions and that offsetting fuels greenwashing and unsustainable behaviour.

There are also doubts that offsetting may not be entirely effective at cancelling out emissions.

Although tree planting is a popular choice and widely used, it is not a straightforward equation that would completely cancel carbon emissions.

For instance, a newly planted tree can take up to 20 years to capture the amount of CO2 a carbon offset scheme promises.

With this in mind, we would need to plant and protect a significant quantity of trees for decades to offset just a fraction of worldwide emissions.

Different tree species have various absorption capacities, but in general, it is considered that six mature trees can store about 1 ton of CO2.

According to calculations shared by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), it would take 640 trees per person to account for all American emissions, which adds up to more than 200 billion trees.

To plant those trees, you need to find available and appropriate lands to start with, which would be a challenge in itself, not to mention keeping those trees healthy and alive for a long time.

Trees are more like time capsules for keeping carbon from entering the atmosphere since when they decay, they release most of the carbon they store.

Besides, newly planted trees must reach maturity before becoming formidable carbon sinks, need proper care and protection over their lifetime, and should be accounted for carbon release when decomposing.

Research has also determined that carbon offsetting may not be an effective sole strategy for tackling our carbon problem.

A study for the European Commission looked into the UN-sanctioned offset projects and discovered three-quarters of projects were unlikely to have resulted in additional emissions reductions.

Additionally, just 2 per cent had a high likelihood of being classed as additional.

There is also worry that carbon credits are being used as excuses to put off systemic reforms to produce green and clean energy.

Others have argued it doesn’t work at all since emissions levels are too high to possibly offset, and it is also challenging to calculate the real impact of offsetting programmes.

A Guardian-led investigation in 2023 unveiled that two-thirds of the most popular top 50 emission offsetting projects are overpromising and underdelivering on actual impact in terms of cancelling our emission.

The rest of the projects looked problematic or could not be determined definitively due to a lack of credible available data.

According to AlliedOffsets, the most comprehensive emissions trading database, these popular global offsetting programs span twenty countries, dominantly in developing regions, including forestry schemes, hydroelectric dams, solar and wind farms, waste disposal and greener household appliances schemes.

However, a vast number of these carbon offsetting schemes do great work for important causes like protecting wildlife, providing developing countries with energy-efficient technology and investing in green energy.

There are also promising innovative solutions for capturing carbon, like producing biochar, turning carbon dioxide into energy, and capturing carbon into concrete or storing it in rocks.

A new area to explore is how to embrace ocean-based solutions in carbon offsetting.

New research commissioned by the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) shows that ocean-based climate solutions can deliver up to 35% of the annual greenhouse gas emission cuts needed in 2050 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C.

These include ocean-based food production, renewable energy, reduction of transport, and embracing blue carbon ecosystems (mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and tidal marshes) that can store up to 5 times more carbon per area than tropical forests and absorb it from the atmosphere about three times as quickly.

Considering the pros and cons, it seems that carbon offsetting is more of a plaster than a cure for the problem.

We need these kinds of actions, but we also must recognise that carbon offsetting cannot solve our carbon issue alone.

Efforts should be focused on drastically reducing emissions while keeping the world’s forests and other ecosystems healthy and growing.

Headline image: Getty Images

This article is published in collaboration with the Profit with Purpose Magazine.

To read more insights regarding carbon management, you can download the latest digital edition of the magazine that further explores topics such as carbon offsetting, regulations and more.

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Five misleading assumptions about addressing carbon emissions

Szilvia Szabó — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:27:45 +0000

Five misleading assumptions about addressing carbon emissions

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In the lead-up to COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will take place from 30 November until 12 December 2023, there are a lot of talks regarding how to reach net zero emission targets.

Although carbon management has become mainstream in the business sector, there is still much confusion and urban legends about what to do with our carbon footprint. This overview explores the most common assumptions about the carbon case.

1 / We can offset our way out of climate action.

Even though it might seem like a simple math equation that we use offsetting to cancel out emissions, it is more complex than that.

Carbon offsetting is far from being a flawless process, with many controversial issues and a lack of reliable scientific evidence on its actual short and long-term impact.

A recent investigation by the Guardian and researchers from Corporate Accountability analysed the top 50 emission offset projects - those that have sold the most carbon credits in the global market.

Using a thorough analytical method, they claim that “78% of them were categorised as likely junk or worthless due to one or more fundamental failing that undermines its promised emission cuts”.

The rest of the projects looked problematic or could not be determined definitively due to a lack of credible available data.

The shocking revelation is that the projects marked as “junk or overvalued” made up almost a third of the global voluntary carbon market, raising the question of whether carbon offsetting benefits are exaggerated across the whole portfolio.

It is compelling to look at carbon credits as the ultimate solution.

Still, the best way forward is to reduce emissions as much as possible and look for offsetting through critical analytical lenses that ensure the best outcome.

2 / Becoming carbon neutral is the end goal.

While reaching the point where you are balancing off what your company emits is a great starting point, it is not enough to improve our situation in terms of reverse engineering climate change.

Image: Getty Images

Settling to cancel out the total amount of carbon emissions you produce will not be sufficient in the long term to future-proof your business. It is great to start with net-zero carbon goals focusing on specific activities, which means that no carbon was emitted, therefore, there is no need to capture or offset.

Aiming for maximum reduction of environmental footprint and offsetting more than the overall emission of your business, or in other words, becoming carbon negative, is where things will get better.

3 / AI solutions will solve all climate challenges.

Leveraging AI in carbon management has great potential. For instance, data analytics and predictive algorithms can help companies better understand and manage their energy usage, transportation, and manufacturing processes to model and measure their Scope 1 and 2 emissions accurately.

According to a study by the European Union, the use of AI and machine learning in energy management systems could result in energy savings of up to 15% in commercial buildings.

AI-driven applications can also contribute to managing Scope 3 emissions through supply chains by optimising connections and material usage between different stakeholders, and experimental projects are looking at implementing blockchain-based carbon tracking systems.

Putting more effort into using predictive analytics is also an area of interest since it can model future carbon emissions and identify potential areas of improvement.

This means that based on previous data and patterns, AI can present different carbon footprint scenarios, allowing decision-makers to choose the one that best fits their strategic goals.

On the other hand, experts and researchers warn that using AI has its own environmental footprint that cannot be overlooked.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, found the training process for a single AI model can emit more than 626,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, which is about the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as 62.6 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for a year.

Empowering the process of training AI and using it on a large scale requires a lot of energy, and global companies like Microsoft refuse to share relevant information regarding resources used in powering these solutions.

Swedish researcher Anders Andrae has forecasted that data centres could account for 10% of total electricity use by 2025.; Image: Unsplash

Using AI in addressing climate change could be a valuable tool that organisations utilise with a footnote that it must also be vetted with the same principles as any other activities with environmental impact.

4 / Planting more trees is the ultimate solution for offsetting carbon emissions.

Trees are natural carbon absorbers commonly known as the easiest, most environmentally friendly way to offset carbon emissions.

Different tree species have various absorption capacities, but in general, it is considered that 6 mature trees can store about 1 ton of CO2.; Image: Unsplash

To plant those trees, you need to find available and appropriate lands to start with, which would be a challenge in itself, not to mention keeping those trees healthy and alive.

Experts agree that while planting new trees is beneficial and needed in fighting climate change, protecting and nurturing existing forests with complex ecosystems is best.

Also, there is the issue that trees are more like time capsules for keeping carbon from entering the atmosphere since when they decay – whether in a wildfire or being chopped down and burnt – they release most of the carbon they stored.

Embracing professional forest management is an excellent tool in the box, but looking at tree planting is far from being a quick fix for offsetting.

5 / Digital tech companies should not worry about carbon emissions.

The hidden environmental impact of digital tech companies is not in the spotlight that much, and it is easy to assume that since a company does not produce physical products, it has a small role in lowering carbon emissions.

However, the reality is that they should be on the radar for ramping up climate actions through their operation and the tools or resources they use.

Data centres used by small and large tech companies are essentially massive warehouses packed with servers consuming electricity primarily generated by fossil fuels, like power plants that burn coal.

It is estimated that 30% of data centres run on a 24/7 basis, often resulting in energy wastage of around 5-10% of their total capacity.

All digital services, from sending emails to running video conferences, use energy that accounts for emissions, and putting together all the small amounts emitted through these activities could sum up to a considerable volume.

Based on Our World in Data report, the information technology used to manage and maintain digital services can be between 2 and 3 per cent. ; Image: Unsplash

There are various ways to manage digital companies' carbon footprint.

An interesting approach from Facebook was moving some parts of its IT infrastructure to northern Sweden, where the naturally cold environment helps reduce the energy needed to keep servers from overheating.

Switching to cloud-based solutions that operate more energy-efficiently is a popular choice for environmentally conscious companies to reduce their footprint.

Besides energy usage, there is also the question of using computers and other electronic devices, considering their overall environmental footprint from production to waste.

Headline image: Getty Images

This article is published in collaboration with the Profit with Purpose Magazine.

To read more insights regarding carbon management, you can download the latest digital edition of the magazine that further explores topics such as carbon offsetting, regulations and more.

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How can carbon offsetting fix climate and communities at one go?

Sinead Connolly — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 17:17:20 +0000

How can carbon offsetting fix climate and communities at one go?

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Creating 'climate smart communities' while cutting back on carbon emissions proved a viable model to tackle the climate crisis.

Carbon offsetting enables individuals and organisations to reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing verified carbon credits, which essentially means investing in offsetting projects that independent third parties manage and monitor.

Renewable energy, bio-diversity protection, community projects, clean water, and improved cookstoves are examples of offsetting projects offered by various organisations that reduce emissions and transform communities worldwide.

“It’s a global issue,” explains Ciara Feehely, Head of Communications and Fundraising at Vita, an Irish NGO that is in the business of creating sustainable, climate smart livelihoods with rural communities in East Africa.

“It doesn’t matter where you take that tonne of carbon out of the atmosphere. Every time you buy a carbon offset, you have a global impact.”

Empowering the people of East Africa through community-led development based on equality and sustainability, and tackling climate change by transitioning to renewable energy and leveraging existing resources, has been the driving force behind Vita’s work.

“The woman is at the centre of all our programs and always has been,” explains Feehely.

“Relieving her burden is important. A woman can spend 16-30 hours a week gathering sticks for a fire, to cook food and sanitise water.”

Creating climate smart communities in East Africa is the main focus of Vita Ireland. Image: Vita Ireland

Working in Ethiopia and Eritrea for the last twenty years, Vita knew how critical fuel-efficient stoves and access to clean water are to the quality of life while positively impacting the climate and the environment.

Monetising carbon savings

With that in mind, they launched the Vita Green Impact Fund in 2015 to monetise carbon emissions savings to benefit the local community and the environment.

The focus of this social impact investment vehicle was on balancing economic development and climate justice.

Vita’s investors were looking for environmental and social impact, along with the security of verifiable carbon emissions savings, independently accredited by The Gold Standard.

They raised €2 million for the Fund and used the investment to finance water programs and supply homes in East Africa with fuel-efficient stoves.

“We reached 311,000 people with clean water or clean cooking,” explained Feehely.

“With the €2 million that we spent, we actually generated 2 million carbon offsets.

It’s a very cost-effective model because there is no commercial leakage since we retain the ownership right up until the point of sale.”

Vita was able to repay their investors with a modest return and invested the profit back into the community that had generated the carbon offsets in the first place.

Following on from the success of their pilot scheme, they are currently raising €27.5 million to reach at least 4 million people with life enhancing and climate mitigating initiatives.

Empowering women

One of Vita’s most critical carbon offsetting and community programs is the repair of broken water pumps.

Water pumps installed in the ’80s and ’90s had fallen into disrepair, and with no access to materials or parts, villagers were unable to fix them.

Efficient cooking and access to clean water can help reducing carbon emission and improve quality of life. Image: Vita Ireland

Local access to clean water reduces the need for women and children to walks miles to find water, and most crucially, eliminates the need to resort to sharing water sources with animals.

Without access to clean water, the dirty water must be boiled to sterilise it.

This typically means a lot of firewood is required as fuel for the stove, which leads to mass deforestation.

The need to cut down trees for fuel can be reduced by making clean water available, thus putting less strain on the local environment.

Saving trees has an immediate impact on the atmosphere, a fully grown tree absorbs anywhere between 10 and 50kg of CO2 on average per year.

Another of Vita’s flagship offsetting programs was the introduction of fuel-efficient stoves.

Open stoves in cooking are an inefficient and dangerous activity that emits tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere every year.

Those who operate open stoves often suffer health implications relating to the eyes, heart and lungs.

Using modernised versions results in a reduction of approximately 50% of carbon emissions compared to the traditional stone stoves.

Looking into the future

To makes sure that these are not stand-alone actions they also run sustainable forestry programmes in tandem with their development projects.

For example, each recipient of a fuel-efficient stove will get some saplings.

These are grown on a plantation in the village, and local women are taught how to manage the trees sustainably to ensure reduced carbon emissions and better energy security for all of the community.

Feehely believes that greenwashing is no longer an option because of increased regulation and transparency.

“It’s going to be expensive to be an emitter in the future, even for big organisations.

Creating carbon and damaging the planet is going to cost your business money, and it’s going to detract from your brand.”

Headline image: Vita Ireland

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German climate activist cycles 6,000 km to reduce carbon emission and mobilise people

Business Spirit News reporting — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 10:19:03 +0000

German climate activist cycles 6,000 km to reduce carbon emission and mobilise people

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Summer cycling tour will be visiting 200 cities in Germany over 100 days to save tonnes of carbon emission.

The initiator of the climate activist campaign ‘The Climate Bet’, Dr. Michael Bilharz, is set out to cycle 100 days and cover 6,000 km across Germany this summer to engage people in climate protection.

The cycling tour takes place between June 23rd and October 3rd, visiting 200 cities with an emblematic cargo bike.

Organisers aim to use the element of fun to show that everyone can contribute to climate protection and save the next ton of CO2.

"When working for climate protection, a lot of frustration can accumulate.

That's why fun should not be neglected.

Sport is exhausting but also fun and healthy.

Climate protection is less exhausting than we think, extremely healthy because it safeguards life and can be fun.

The Climate Bet summer cycling tour brings it all together,“ says Michael Bilharz, leader of the campaign.

Dr. Michael Bilharz, leader of The Cimate Bet activist campaign

The campaign aims to demonstrate that citizens do not only demand global responsibility for improved climate protection but are also willing to act.

Their goal is to bring the voices of 1 million people and their 1 million tons of saved CO2 to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021.

Bilharz adds: "That's 1.5 per cent of the German population - it can be done, and it would be an impressive sign for climate protection.

To do this, we show what possibilities everyone has to save the next ton of CO2 quickly and effectively."

The Climate Bet is the most extensive activation and participation campaign of its type for better climate action initiated by the German association '3 fürs Klima e.V.'.

Citizens are encouraged to get involved with the summer tour by cycling alongside the Climate Bet team, participating in talks in their own city, and spreading the word about the campaign.

German cities are called to join The Climate Bet campaign to save carbon emission; Image: The Climate Bet

Organisers are also calling on all 200 cities they visit to launch their dedicated municipal Climate Bet actions.

They can mobilise their inhabitants and save tons of CO2 in their climate bet.

Cities such as Aachen, Haan, Potsdam and Backnang have already joined and started to promote climate protection actions as part of their commitment.

People can get involved in two easy ways to show their support by choosing to log their own carbon emission savings on the campaign’s website or donate the equivalent of one tonne CO2 offsetting to certified carbon projects.

The website also offers users options to learn more about how to reduce carbon emission in their everyday life in a playful way, using CO2 avatars.

"Just save the next ton of CO2 and stop resting on the sofa of all the ‘buts’. That's what the climate bet is all about,“

Dr. Michael Bilharz pointed out the importance of personal involvement.

The Climate Bet campaign was initiated by the association "3 fürs Klima", which motivates and supports people to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement target’s on an individual level today.

The members of the association commit themselves to a climate-neutral life and implement this goal with the 'Triad for the Climate': Reduce one's own carbon footprint, compensate for the rest and finally take others with them on the path to a climate-neutral society in order to increase one's personal handprint.

The patron of the campaign is Prof. Dirk Messner, President of the German Federal Environmental Agency.

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Petition to end corporate greenwashing calls leaders to take action

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:11:19 +0000

Petition to end corporate greenwashing calls leaders to take action

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The Europe-wide ‘Make 2021 Count’ campaign aims to end corporate greenwashing and boost carbon accountability.

As the world recalibrates towards sustainability after the setbacks of the pandemic, this year could well be our last chance to keep the 1.5℃ global warming limit within our future reach.

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, said earlier this year that „2021 is a make-or-break year to confront the global climate emergency”.

Despite a drop in emissions of around 5%, 2020 was not enough to reverse the trend in carbon emissions.

However, more and more companies pledge to reduce their carbon emission, the transparency on the actual measurement remains unregulated, leaving enough room for greenwashing and misleading.

‘Make 2021 Count’ campaign aims to end corporate greenwashing; Image: Plan A

The Europe-wide ‘Make 2021 Count’ campaign is launched by Berlin-based green tech startup, Plan A, aiming to start a movement to end corporate greenwashing.

Joined by industry partners, organisers of this activist campaign call on the EU to introduce universal binding transparency standards for corporate carbon emissions accounting in European companies.

That would basically mean that once a company claims to be "carbon neutral" should be legally required to disclose its carbon footprint to the public.

Beyond this specific action, the campaign's goal is to educate businesses and spark new conversations between professionals on what sustainability means in 2021.

The first step of the campaign is a petition launched on the change.org website to collect as many signatures as possible, with an initial target of reaching 1000 signatures.

The petition will then be submitted to the European Commission with a call to action for policymakers and regulators to introduce legal measures in the fight against corporate greenwashing.

“For policymakers, we believe this petition can provide a catalyst for further regulations on transparency and definitions of true sustainable practices for corporate entities.

The drafting of European and national regulations on climate action offers the best possible opportunity to seize the moment,”

explains Lubomila Jordanova, CEO of Plan A, why they decided to start a petition as part of the ‘Make 2021 Count’ campaign.

Lubomila Jordanova, CEO of Plan A, lead organiser of the ‘Make 2021 Count’ campaign

It has become virtually impossible to distinguish between companies that take impactful steps to reduce and avoid CO2 and those that only claim to act sustainably without transparently reporting any actions and results.

Thus, greenwashing distorts the reality that the majority of EU businesses have not actually reported on their carbon reduction targets.

In parallel, there is a growing concern that greenwashing undermines the credibility of those companies that are driving actual change.

"The longer there is space for sustainability claims to be overstated, the longer greenwashing can exist and hinder real change.

By reporting transparently, thoroughly and credibly to the public about their emissions, companies can learn about themselves and from each other.

They will also acknowledge that there is no quick fix for sustainable carbon reduction, but that it is a journey that requires commitment and a sense of responsibility”, says Jordanova.

The campaign is calling leaders to sign the petition to end greenwashing

Greenwashing runs deeper than statements about carbon neutrality and generates confusion in determining whether a company is taking tangible steps towards sustainability or not.

This results in hesitation and represents a significant obstacle for companies wishing to start their sustainability journey.

This moment is a chance to help businesses identify the different forms of greenwashing and find viable steps to combat them.

Since its launch in 2017, Plan A, the main organiser of this campaign, has helped businesses steer away from greenwashing with a software that follows a scientific approach to carbon reduction and creates transparency on corporate greenhouse gas emissions.

The campaign is supported by well-recognised companies such as ecolytiq, Green City Solutions, Onomotion, Joblift and Coya.

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Carbon emission reporting becomes mandatory in Ireland for green food industry players

Szilvia Szabó — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 11:49:05 +0000

Carbon emission reporting becomes mandatory in Ireland for green food industry players

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Agriculture

Food

Sustainability

Sustainable Agriculture

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‘Pathways to Net Zero’ program makes carbon emissions reporting mandatory for Origin Green members

Origin Green, Ireland’s national food and drink sustainability programme managed by Bord Bia/Irish Food Board, has published new procedures and guidelines in March 2021 that put carbon emission targets on a mandatory footing for its members.

Origin Green is Ireland’s pioneering food and drink sustainability programme, operating on a national scale, enabling the industry to set and achieve measurable sustainability targets that respect the environment and serve local communities more effectively.

Over 53,000 farms and 324 leading Irish food and drink companies are collaborating under this programme to put sustainability at the core of their business to meet customers' evolving expectations locally and globally.

Pathways to Net Zero’ program makes carbon emissions reporting mandatory for Origin Green members in Ireland; Image: pexels

“Our €13 billion food and drink export industry has established a hard-earned, global reputation as a leading producer of high-quality, sustainable food and drink.

Maintaining this reputation, which must continue to be evidence-based, is more important than ever in the face of continued global trading volatility.

But, not at any cost.

We acknowledge that Ireland’s agri-food sector needs to do more and faster.

Origin Green has, and will, continue to deliver impact by providing a co-ordinated national approach to reducing emissions across the supply chain as a part of the Irish Government’s wider Climate Action response,” said Tara McCarthy, Bord Bia CEO, in regards to the launch of this new programme.

This step marks a significant shift and will see member companies go beyond reducing energy-related emissions and focus more on their entire carbon footprint, including value chain and all indirect emissions, such as manufacturing and travel.

The new ‘Pathway to Net Zero’ document provides guidance for Origin Green members to reduce emissions and ultimately decarbonise their own operations and supply chains.

These efforts are made as the sector seeks to accelerate its contribution to the Irish Government's Programme to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

According to Bord Bia, companies' interest has been very high, with close to 300 food and drink companies attending the ‘Pathways to Net Zero’ launch webinar in early March 2021.

In order to drive impact at a large scale, carbon emission target first will only be mandatory to members with a turnover greater than €50 million.

Companies must conduct baseline assessments this year to determine emissions targets from 2022 onwards. These plans will be reviewed, monitored annually, and independently verified by international specialists Mabbett.

Speaking about the Pathway to Net Zero, Origin Green Director, Deirdre Ryan said: “Accelerating the transition to a zero-carbon economy by 2050, is required to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change.

Business leaders are now shifting their focus from what is achievable to what needs to be done, and there has been increasing interest among Origin Green companies wishing to reduce emissions within their own operations and also along their supply chain.”

As part of this new development, Bord Bia has prepared comprehensive guidelines for companies to decarbonise their own operations and supply chains.

The advice on net-zero target setting and implementation is based on the United Nation’s “Measure, Reduce, Compensate” model, which encourages everyone in society to take action to help achieve a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.

The launch of the ‘Pathway to Net Zero’ project builds on several previous initiatives, such as the Origin Green Sustainability Charter.

That requires signatories to set and deliver on clear sustainability targets as part of their 5-year sustainability plans with a specific focus on raw material sourcing, manufacturing process and social sustainability.

Companies have set over 2,400 sustainability targets to date, reaffirming the industry’s commitment to continuous improvement.

Headline image: pixabay from Pexels

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