Carbon accounting and offsetting
Calculate your carbon footprint & take steps towards neutrality
There’s no doubt that climate change is one of the biggest issues facing business and the wider community today. You might be well on the way to understanding your carbon footprint and actively reducing your emissions, or perhaps climate change and GHG data is still not part of your every day or boardroom conversations. Wherever you are with your carbon accounting, auditing and offsetting, we’ll help you understand how your business is contributing to climate change and how you can take steps to mitigate it.
It’s important to remember that responsible businesses don’t just measure and manage their carbon footprint, they’re also preparing for a different future. Understanding the implications of climate change on your operations and deciding how your organisation will adapt is a critical step for any forward-thinking business.
Minimising your contribution to climate change
Establish an emission inventory
We help you identify where your GHG emissions are generated and set up a simple system to collect, record, analyse and report your energy use and emissions. We’ll take care of the technical process of determining your boundary and identifying your scope 1, 2 and 3 sources[1]. Your inventory is tailored to your organisation so it’s fit for purpose and can be designed to meet the requirements of the internationally recognised GHG protocol, National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act and other Standards.
Conduct an energy audit of your facility to identify energy reduction opportunities
Reducing energy makes good business sense. By reducing your consumption and switching to lower emission alternatives you can do your bit to save the planet as well as a large business expense. To determine your opportunities, we’ll carry out a Type 1 or Type 2[2] energy audit depending on how detailed you want your assessment to be.
Prepare your organisation to become carbon neutral certified
Are you seeking carbon certified neutral status for your organisation, product or event? We can guide you through the process of becoming carbon neutral certified. This includes the completion of your GHG inventory and helping you make informed purchasing decisions about which carbon offsets are the right type for you. We’ll then prepare you for undergoing certification through the Australian Government’s Climate Active program.[3]
How we help you prepare for climate change
Climate risk analysis
As the world as we know it shifts due to climate change, your business will face different operating conditions. Climate risks are unique to each business and we’ll explore yours so you can adequately plan for the future. We’ll ask questions about how your supply chain will be affected. If there are shortages, will you have access to the resources you need? Will your operations need to move from their current location due to climatic conditions?
On the flip side, we’ll also look at what opportunities a carbon-constrained world might present. If you invest in renewable energy technology now, what benefits will that bring? What will customers in 20 or 30 years need or demand? We’ll help you identify your business’ climate risks and opportunities so you can be prepared for the future and respond to stakeholders’ questions, including investors (if applicable).
Preparing your business for climate change?
[1] The internationally recognised GHG Protocol Corporate Standard classifies GHG emissions into three ‘scopes’. Scope 1 emissions are your business‘ direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. For example, emissions generated from company vehicles or from using gas in your operations. Scope 2 emissions are your business’ indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. They’re indirect because the emissions occurred at the power station. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions (not included in scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions. These may include emissions generated elsewhere that relate to your purchased goods such as office paper, air travel, your wastewater, and even your staff’s commute to work.
[2] Type 1 and Type 2 audits are described in detail in AS/NZS 3598.1:2014 Energy Audits Part 1 Commercial Buildings. Type 1 audits are often a good place to start as you’ll get high-level recommendations with approximate payback periods. However, a Type 2 audit is more detailed and will give you a prioritised and costed list of recommended actions. We can talk you through what each audit involves and design an approach to fit your needs and operations.
[3] Climate Active certification is awarded to businesses and organisations that have achieved carbon neutrality. The Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard was formerly the National Carbon Offset Standard.