Structuring an approach to Climate Change
There are many businesses and individuals who have just begun to tackle their CO2 emissions. Others are grappling with how they translate what they know about their climate impacts into a plan which can be put into operation.
It's not just obvious things that are causing the problem. Take a PC for example; it uses electricity to work even when kept on standby. It has a direct effect on our carbon emissions as the electricity comes from power stations which burn coal, gas or oil - the fossil fuels that are producing CO2. Below we list some ways in which, either as a business or an individual, you can start to make a difference.
Approaches For Business
BOTTOM LINE ADVANTAGES
Actions that reduce climate change impacts at source in ways which also increase operational efficiences.
Example: Using video conferencing instead of air travel or moving customer communications, billing or statements from paper to online.
TOP LINE ADVANTAGES
Actions that drive revenue through product differentiation, customer loyalty or supply chain compliance by addressing climate change impacts.
Example: Winning business by differentiating products or services through CarbonNeutral status.
REPUTATION
Actions that enhance corporate reputation by addressing climate change impacts outside the direct control of the business.
Example: Achieving positive media coverage through 'greening' the supply chain
TRANSFORMATION
Actions that are innovations in products, business activities or supply-chain relationships which deliver a marked (rather than incremental) improvement in climate change impacts.
Example: Making product development future-proof by adopting CarbonNeutral best practice before compliance is compulsory.
Approaches For Individuals
- The first step is to see how much CO2 you produce (your 'carbon footprint') - so then you can understand what to do about it. www.carbonneutral.com has calculators to help you.
- Switch off. You waste electricity and therefore money and CO2 by leaving things on standby. A PC monitor on standby uses 51kWh per year of electricity - equivalent to 500 boiling kettles.
- Recycle. There is less energy used in recycling than in originating new goods. For example two glass bottles saves enough energy to boil water for 5 cups of tea.
- Lights. Energy saving light bulbs use less energy (saving you about £10 per year) and produce 0.8 tonnes of CO2 less than incandescent bulbs. You can buy them online at www.carbonneutral.com
- Maintenance. Some simple jobs in the home can reduce energy use. For example, replacing a warn washer on a dripping tap could save 1kg of CO2 in a year and 90 litres of water in a week.
- Time for tea. If everyone boiled only the water they needed to make a cup of tea instead of 'filling' the kettle every time, we could save enough electricity to run practically all the street lighting in the U.K.
- Better driving. Not only could you choose a more fuel efficient car, but there are some simple basic improvements you can make - you can save 1kg of CO2, for example, in just 65 miles of driving if you keep the correct tyre pressure.
