The Net Zero Partner for Welsh Creative Services

Achieving net zero emissions requires a comprehensive approach involving various commitments and actions across different sectors and stakeholders. Here are some key commitments needed to become net zero:

1. Emissions Reduction Targets: Setting clear and ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is essential. These targets should cover all relevant scopes of emissions, including direct emissions from operations (Scope 1), indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or steam (Scope 2), and other indirect emissions from sources such as supply chains and transportation (Scope 3).

2. Transition to Renewable Energy: Transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power is crucial. This may involve investing in renewable energy infrastructure, purchasing renewable energy certificates, or sourcing renewable energy directly.

3. Energy Efficiency Measures: Implementing energy efficiency measures to reduce energy consumption is an important part of achieving net zero. This may include upgrading equipment and facilities, improving insulation, optimizing processes, and promoting energy-saving behaviors among employees.

4. Carbon Offsetting and Removal: Offset any remaining emissions that cannot be eliminated through emissions reduction efforts by investing in carbon offset projects such as reforestation, afforestation, sustainable agriculture, or carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. Additionally, exploring natural solutions like soil carbon sequestration and ecosystem restoration can help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

5. Supply Chain Engagement: Engage with suppliers and partners to reduce emissions throughout the supply chain. This may involve setting sustainability requirements for suppliers, collaborating on emissions reduction initiatives, and promoting sustainable practices across the value chain.

6. Investment in Innovation: Invest in research, development, and deployment of innovative technologies and solutions to further reduce emissions and enhance sustainability across operations and products.

7. Stakeholder Engagement and Reporting: Engage with stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, and communities, to raise awareness, gather input, and build support for net zero initiatives. Regularly report on progress towards net zero goals, including emissions data, targets achieved, and actions taken.

8. Policy Advocacy and Collaboration: Advocate for supportive policies and regulations at the local, national, and international levels to create an enabling environment for achieving net zero emissions. Collaborate with industry peers, governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to share best practices, leverage resources, and drive collective action.

By making these commitments and taking concrete actions, businesses, governments, and other organizations can work together to transition to a net zero emissions future and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Carbon accounting involves measuring and tracking greenhouse gas emissions, typically carbon dioxide (CO2), but also methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and other pollutants, emitted from various activities, operations, or sources. Here’s an overview of how carbon accounting is typically done:

1. Identifying Emission Sources: The first step in carbon accounting is to identify and categorize all sources of greenhouse gas emissions within the scope of the accounting boundary. This includes direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (Scope 1), indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat, or steam (Scope 2), and other indirect emissions from activities such as business travel, transportation, supply chains, and waste disposal (Scope 3).

2. Gathering Data: Once emission sources are identified, data on energy consumption, fuel use, production processes, transportation activities, waste generation, and other relevant factors are collected. This data may come from utility bills, fuel receipts, operational records, emissions factors, and other sources.

3. Calculating Emissions: Using standardized emissions factors or specific emission calculation methodologies, emissions are calculated for each emission source in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), which accounts for the global warming potential of different greenhouse gases relative to CO2 over a specified time horizon (typically 100 years).

4. Reporting and Documentation: Emission calculations are documented and reported in a transparent and consistent manner. This may involve preparing annual greenhouse gas inventories or emissions reports according to recognized reporting frameworks such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

5. Verification and Assurance: Depending on the organization’s requirements and objectives, carbon accounting may undergo external verification or assurance by third-party auditors to validate the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of the reported emissions data.

6. Analysis and Interpretation: Analyzing emissions data allows organizations to identify trends, hotspots, and areas for improvement. This analysis may inform decision-making processes, target setting, and the development of emissions reduction strategies and initiatives.

7. Setting Reduction Targets: Based on the emissions data and analysis, organizations may set specific, measurable, and time-bound targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These targets may be absolute (e.g., reduce emissions by 50% by 2030) or intensity-based (e.g., reduce emissions per unit of output by 20% by 2025).

8. Implementing Reduction Measures: Implementing emissions reduction measures and initiatives across operations, supply chains, and value chains to achieve the set targets. This may involve investing in energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation optimization, waste reduction, carbon offsetting, and other mitigation actions.

By following these steps, organizations can effectively measure, track, and manage their greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to efforts to mitigate climate change and transition to a low-carbon economy.

Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions are categories used to classify greenhouse gas emissions associated with an organization’s activities. These categories help provide a comprehensive understanding of a company’s carbon footprint and enable targeted emissions reduction strategies. Here’s a breakdown of each scope:

1. Scope 1 Emissions: Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas emissions that occur from sources that are owned or controlled by the organization. These emissions typically include:

   • Combustion of fossil fuels: Emissions from burning fuels such as natural gas, diesel, gasoline, or coal in facilities, boilers, furnaces, and vehicles owned or operated by the organization.
   • Process emissions: Emissions generated from industrial processes, chemical reactions, or other activities, such as emissions from manufacturing processes or fugitive emissions from leaks in equipment.

   Scope 1 emissions are considered the most controllable and are often the primary focus of emissions reduction efforts.

2. Scope 2 Emissions: Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with the generation of electricity, heat, or steam purchased or consumed by the organization. These emissions occur as a result of energy generation activities that are external to the organization but are used to support its operations. Scope 2 emissions typically include:

   • Purchased electricity: Emissions associated with the generation of electricity purchased from utilities or other electricity providers.
   • Purchased heat or steam: Emissions associated with the generation of heat or steam purchased from external sources.

   Scope 2 emissions are important to consider as they represent the environmental impact of the organization’s energy consumption and can be influenced through energy efficiency measures and renewable energy procurement.

3. Scope 3 Emissions: Scope 3 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur as a result of the organization’s activities but are not directly owned or controlled by the organization. These emissions often occur upstream or downstream in the organization’s value chain and can include a wide range of activities and sources. Scope 3 emissions may include:

   • Purchased goods and services: Emissions associated with the production and transportation of goods and services purchased by the organization, such as raw materials, components, and outsourced activities.
   • Business travel: Emissions from employee travel, including air travel, rail travel, car rentals, and hotel stays.
   • Employee commuting: Emissions from employee commuting to and from work.
   • Upstream and downstream transportation and distribution: Emissions associated with the transportation and distribution of products to customers or end-users.
   • Use of sold products: Emissions associated with the use of products or services sold by the organization, including energy consumption, maintenance, and disposal.

   Scope 3 emissions represent a significant portion of many organizations’ total carbon footprint and can be more challenging to measure and manage due to their broader scope and the involvement of external stakeholders.

By understanding and addressing emissions across all three scopes, organizations can develop comprehensive strategies to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

SBTi, CDP, and ISO 14001:2015 are widely recognized initiatives, frameworks, and standards related to sustainability and environmental management. Here’s an overview of each:

1. Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi):

   • The Science-Based Targets initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). SBTi helps companies set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets that are aligned with the latest climate science to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
   • Companies participating in SBTi commit to setting emissions reduction targets consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. These targets are considered “science-based” if they are in line with what is necessary to prevent the most severe impacts of climate change.
   • SBTi provides guidance, resources, and validation for companies to develop and implement science-based targets, helping them align their sustainability strategies with climate science and global climate goals.

2. Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP):

   • The Carbon Disclosure Project is a global environmental disclosure system that enables companies, cities, states, and regions to measure and manage their environmental impacts, particularly related to climate change, water security, and deforestation.
   • CDP collects data from thousands of organizations worldwide on their environmental performance, risks, and opportunities. This data is used by investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders to assess companies’ environmental performance and drive sustainable investment and decision-making.
   • CDP provides a platform for companies to disclose their environmental data, benchmark their performance against peers, and demonstrate transparency and accountability in addressing environmental challenges.

3. ISO 14001:2015:

   • ISO 14001:2015 is an international standard for environmental management systems (EMS) developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It provides a framework for organizations to establish, implement, maintain, and continuously improve their environmental management practices and performance.
   • ISO 14001:2015 emphasizes a systematic approach to identifying environmental aspects, assessing impacts, and implementing controls to minimize adverse effects on the environment. It covers a wide range of environmental issues, including resource use, waste management, pollution prevention, and compliance with environmental regulations.
   • Certification to ISO 14001:2015 demonstrates an organization’s commitment to environmental responsibility, compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, and ongoing efforts to minimize its environmental footprint. It is recognized internationally and can enhance reputation, competitiveness, and access to markets.

Overall, SBTi, CDP, and ISO 14001:2015 are important tools and frameworks that help organizations address environmental challenges, improve sustainability performance, and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change and protect the environment.

Carbon offsetting and carbon removals are two strategies used to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change:

1. Carbon Offsetting:

   • Carbon offsetting involves compensating for emissions generated from one source by investing in projects that reduce or remove an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere elsewhere. These projects typically fall into one of the following categories:
     • Renewable energy projects: Investing in renewable energy projects such as wind farms, solar installations, hydroelectric plants, or biomass facilities, which generate clean energy and displace the need for fossil fuels.
     • Reforestation and afforestation: Funding projects that plant trees (afforestation) or restore forests (reforestation) to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
     • Energy efficiency projects: Supporting initiatives that improve energy efficiency in buildings, industries, transportation, or agriculture, resulting in reduced energy consumption and emissions.
     • Methane capture and destruction: Investing in projects that capture and destroy methane emissions from sources such as landfills, livestock operations, or wastewater treatment plants, preventing methane from being released into the atmosphere where it has a potent greenhouse gas effect.
   • When an organization or individual purchases carbon offsets, they are essentially balancing out their own emissions by funding projects that reduce emissions elsewhere, effectively achieving a net zero carbon footprint.

2. Carbon Removals:

   • Carbon removals, also known as carbon sequestration or negative emissions, involve actively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in long-term reservoirs, thereby reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases and mitigating climate change. There are various natural and technological approaches to carbon removal, including:
     • Afforestation and reforestation: Planting trees and restoring forests to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in biomass and soils.
     • Soil carbon sequestration: Implementing agricultural practices such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and agroforestry that enhance soil organic carbon storage and improve soil health.
     • Direct air capture (DAC) and carbon capture and storage (CCS): Deploying technological solutions to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air or industrial emissions and store it underground or in geological formations, preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere.
     • Enhanced weathering: Accelerating natural weathering processes that capture carbon dioxide by exposing minerals such as olivine or limestone to atmospheric CO2, leading to the formation of stable carbonates.
   • Carbon removals have the potential to remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to achieve negative emissions and balance out ongoing emissions from human activities.

Both carbon offsetting and carbon removals play important roles in efforts to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sinks. However, it’s essential to prioritize emissions reductions at the source and use carbon offsetting and removals as complementary strategies to achieve net zero emissions and limit global warming.