Carbon Emission

VITA Ireland

Szilvia Szabó — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 16:27:16 +0000

VITA Ireland

Location

Ireland

Reach

Africa

As regions in East Africa experience some of the worst effects of climate change, we partner with rural communities in Ethiopia and Eritrea to create sustainable, climate smart livelihoods. Our values centre on sustainability and adaptability, with each of our programmes dedicated to not only mitigating climate change but also ensuring that partners, communities, and families are equipped with the skills, training, and resources needed to thrive.

Carbon offsetting with Vita is a straightforward and verified process. Vita creates carbon savings through clean water and fuel-efficient cookstove programmes. These life-saving programmes prevent the cutting down of trees for fuel to cook or sterilise dirty water, thereby saving carbon emissions from being released while also improving the health and livelihoods of vulnerable rural communities.

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

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

Inspire

August 2021

Focus

Platform :: Partner categories

Funding | Supports

Networking | Events | Community

THE CLIMATE BET

kiss.tamas — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 20:43:50 +0000

THE CLIMATE BET

Location

Germany

https://www.dieklimawette.de/en/

Reach

Germany

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 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.

The members of the "3 fürs Klima" 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.

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

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

Inspire

June 2021

Focus

Sustainable Development Goals

Climate Change

Carbon Emission

Platform :: Partner categories

Networking | Events | Community

Achieving a climate-neutral EU by 2050 becomes a legal obligation to all member states

Business Spirit News reporting — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 17:29:39 +0000

Achieving a climate-neutral EU by 2050 becomes a legal obligation to all member states

Tags

Climate Change

Law

Europe

Climate Protection

Topic

Newly adopted European climate law is entering into force, ensuring climate neutrality in the EU in alignment with the Paris Agreement.

The European Council ended the European climate law's adoption procedure and set into legislation the objective of a climate-neutral EU by 2050.

This step transforms the European Green Deal’s political commitment to EU climate neutrality by 2050 into a binding obligation, which means that the EU will aim for negative emissions afterwards.

Parliament rapporteur Jytte Guteland (S&D, Sweden) said:

“I am proud that we finally have a climate law.

We confirmed a net emissions reductions target of at least 55%, closer to 57% by 2030, according to our agreement with the Commission.

I would have preferred to go even further, but this is a good deal based on science that will make a big difference.

The EU must now reduce emissions more in the next decade than it has in the previous three decades combined, and we have new and more ambitious targets that can inspire more countries to step up.”

The new EU climate law is entering into force; image:Unsplash

The new law sets a binding Union climate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions (emissions after deduction of removals) by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990.

By 30 September 2023, and every five years thereafter, the Commission will assess the collective progress made by all EU countries and the consistency of national measures towards the EU’s goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.

Now that the European climate law has been adopted by both the European Parliament and the Council, citizens and businesses have the legal certainty and predictability they need to plan for this transition.

Given the importance of independent scientific advice, and based on a proposal from Parliament, a European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change will be set up to monitor progress and to assess whether European policy is consistent with these objectives.

In addition, an upcoming proposal from the Commission on the LULUCF Regulation (Land use and forestry regulation for 2021-2030) to regulate GHG emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry, will increase EU carbon sinks and will hence de facto increase the 2030 EU’s target to 57%.

At the same time, it will publish a projected indicative Union’s greenhouse gas budget for the period 2030-2050, together with its underlying methodology.

“I warmly welcome this final step of the adoption of the EU’s very first climate law, which enshrines into legislation the 2050 climate neutrality objective.

An agreement on the European climate law has been a priority for the Portuguese Presidency and I am glad that we have successfully brought it over the finishing line,” said João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Minister of Environment and Climate Action.

The Commission plans to present a series of proposals on 14 July 2021 in order for the EU to be able to reach the more ambitious 2030-target.

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July 2021

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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Topic

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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June 2021

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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April 2021

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

Tags

Agriculture

Food

Sustainability

Sustainable Agriculture

Topic

‘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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March 2021