In the absence of a globally accepted regulatory system for carbon reduction, voluntary carbon markets are playing an increasingly important role in mitigating global warming.
Many private and public organizations are considering adopting voluntary emission reduction targets or even becoming climate-neutral (i.e. carbon neutral).
The most important reasons for compensating carbon emissions in voluntary carbon markets are:
- Saving costs through greater resource efficienc;y
- Evaluating risk exposure;
- Developing new products and markets;
- Demonstrating corporate social responsibility and;
- Communicating environmental performance to the public.
Climate-neutral organizations have no net greenhouse gas emissions as a direct result of their own activities. In addition to their own emissions, companies are also increasingly becoming aware of their indirect greenhouse gas emissions – i.e. those upstream or downstream in their value chain – and these concerns are often reflected in their purchasing and sales strategy. Voluntary carbon markets are growing fast (they doubled in size and value in 2008).
We have broad experience in each of the steps towards climate neutrality and regularly advise on strategic decisions in this area. This includes weighing up the financial – and non-financial – risks and opportunities associated with a carbon-constrained economy, including considerations such as company image, marketing strategy and internal management issues.
In carbon neutrality projects we bring together our expertise in renewable energy, energy, carbon management and compliance markets (including JI/CDM and EU ETS) with our work on greenhouse gas emission inventories and carbon footprint analyses.
Our services:
- Calculating (life-cycle) greenhouse gas emission inventories and analysing the carbon footprints of organizations and products
- Assessing the impact of risks and opportunities related to indirect greenhouse gas emissions in the banking and insurance sector
- Advising on and implementing energy efficiency and energy management strategies
- Carrying out carbon management and climate-neutral projects
- Advising on business opportunities in a carbon-constrained economy
- Advising on and implementing carbon labelling of consumer products
- Developing and implementing communication strategies
- Assessing supply and demand in voluntary carbon markets
- Developing voluntary carbon standards.
Ecofys references:
- Calculating the organizational carbon footprint of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Port of Oslo authority;
- Calculating the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions and designing the company’s carbon neutral strategy of Ben & Jerry’s icecream, coffee from Neuteboom and Drie Mollen sinds 1818;
- Supporting the development of the carbon strategies for the companies De Post-La Poste and Belgacom.
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