Financial, legal, social, and environmental case for a business to participate in carbon measurement, reduction and offsetting focusing primarily on commercial entities, but many of the benefits also apply to non-profit and Governmental organisations. The list is non-exhaustive and many organisations will experience additional
benefits above and beyond those outlined here.
Commercial benefits
- Boost revenue by attracting new clients – 75% of millennials are willing to pay a higher
price for products/services that are environmentally friendly.4 Only 6% of EU companies
have successfully achieved ‘Net Zero’ – stand out from the crowd by getting a first mover
advantage over your competitors. Approximately two thirds of OECD governments and
multinational corporations award large tenders partially based on sustainability criteria - Attract and retain talent by improving staff morale – 92% of the workforce in European
countries are more likely to accept job offers from companies with clear environmental
goals according to Gallup polls - Strengthen your brand image and reputation through a Carbon Neutral Certification,
which can be added to your website and promotional materials. Global brands have seen
their values increase by up to 28% following ambitious sustainability initiatives - Increase customer loyalty by acknowledging your impact on the planet – 81% of
consumers want companies to do more for the climate and publish their footprint - Reduce costs by identifying areas of excess emissions, which often exposes opportunities to cut electricity and water bills. The average UK business that tackles its emissions saves approximately £120 (~€143) per employee per year on bills
- Minimise regulatory risks – national governments and the European Union are rapidly introducing legally binding sustainability requirements, and it is safer to act ahead of time than be rushed into compliance at the last minute
Environmental and social benefits
- Tackle climate change – businesses that measure their carbon footprint reduce their
carbon footprint by an average of 5% per year10 – which is essential to meet global climate
targets. Failing to mitigate the effects of climate change threatens human lives, natural
ecosystems, public infrastructure and private property. - Decrease resource wastage – environmental audits often highlight areas where businesses
can use less electricity, water and raw materials, which not only saves businesses money
but also cuts inefficiencies and excessive consumption. - Protecting wildlife – offsetting residual emissions that cannot be prevented usually
involves funding ecological projects such as reforestation initiatives that plant trees –
creating wildlife habitats and promoting biodiversity. - Improve public health – reducing emissions also minimises the number of harmful
pollutants in the air we breathe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 4.2
million people die prematurely every year due to preventable air pollution.
Certification of Carbon Reduction Projects
Requirements for determining baselines, monitoring, quantifying and reporting of project emissions. It focuses on GHG projects or project-based activities specifically designed to reduce GHG emissions and/or boost GHG removals. It provides the basis for GHG projects to be verified by the CO2CCS, and for the resulting emissions reductions to be sold on CO2.CAPITAL AG’s voluntary carbon offset platform. Generally, as noted above, GHG reduction projects will fall into one of two categories:
- Avoided emissions, which is the reduction of existing emissions caused by the
organisation’s activities. - Emissions removals, or Green Asset projects, which sequester carbon from the
atmosphere by, for example, planting trees which absorb CO2.
