CARBON OFFSETTING CARBON OFFSETTING
5. WHY WOULD A FACILITIES MANAGEMENT COMPANY IMPLEMENT AN OFFSET INCLUSIVE CARBON MANAGEMENT? Such a programme represents: • The most efficient way to reduce emissions beyond a certain point.
• For many, the only way to reach scientifically significant emission reduction targets.
• A cost benchmark against which to measure the efficiency of all internal reduction opportunities.
• A driver of operational behavioural change to adopt energy efficient working practices.
• A cost effective way to present a climate change credential to customers that will drive revenue and to stakeholders that will enhance corporate reputation.
6. IS OFFSETTING GUILT MONEY? The experience of The CarbonNeutral Company is that carbon offset forms part of an educational process and commercial strategy because it helps to put a price on carbon liability – sending companies a clear signal of the potential cost of their CO2
emissions when regulation tightens. That, in turn, incentivises companies to find ways to reduce emissions at source, offsetting what is genuinely unavoidable. For example, as part of its carbon strategy, a company might choose to upgrade its air conditioning system as part of an office refurbishment because (a) it is able to do so in the short term and (b) it makes financial sense.
7. IS IT A REAL EMISSION REDUCTION? Yes. Example: Business A1 is unable to reduce 100 tonnes of its CO2
emissions
in the short term. There is a project somewhere else in the world which could save 100 tonnes easily, but they need a cash injection. For example, a community in India could swap from carbon intensive kerosene as an energy source to solar panels – but they can’t afford the solar panels. Through the purchase of carbon offsets, you provide the financial assistance to subsidise the cost of getting solar panels onto housing, and through that means you have enabled a saving of 100 tonnes of CO2
. Business A1 has
therefore reduced global net CO2 emissions by 100 tonnes. The added
benefit is that Business A1 has helped
facilitate a step change in local technology in a developing market.
8. WHAT IS CARBONNEUTRAL®? CarbonNeutral® certification demonstrates positive action to tackle climate change. The CarbonNeutral®
certification is awarded when CO2 emissions have been measured and reduced to net zero in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol – the global standard for ensuring the integrity and quality of carbon neutral certification programmes,
9. DOES CARBON OFFSETTING
PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO GLOBAL WARMING?
On its own, carbon offsetting does not provide an answer to global warming but it does have a large part to play in the overall approach to carbon management. Internal reductions take time to implement and effect change (changing a heating system, for example), and even targets of 20% reductions are stretching to growing businesses. Carbon offsetting brings the possibility of 100% reductions – achieved in the immediate term.
If you have any more questions please
visit
www.carbonneutral.com or call 020 7833 6000 and ask for Jane McAllister.
SUSTAINABLE FM | JUNE 2010 |53
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64