10 Steps to Becoming a Carbon Neutral Business

Page 8 Going carbon neutral will most likely challenge you to acquire new knowledge in the areas of GHG accounting, carbon reduction initiatives, renewable energy options and carbon offsetting. Each work stream is a discipline in its own right. These are all technical and specialized fields, and while your aspiration to go carbon neutral can be fully in place, you will most likely not possess the knowledge and expertise required to do so. External partners can help you navigate through the technicalities of going carbon neutral, allowing you to spend more time on other activities, such as engagement. There are significant differences between partners, and it is important to understand their service offer, technical capabilities and the way they work when choosing the right one(s) for you. / Service offer and expertise The budget you have available will of course influence the range of partners you can choose from. If you want to be a leader on carbon neutrality, partner up with a consultant who has worked with the most ambitious climate business leaders that can leverage their experience and suggest state of the art solutions. There are specialist climate consultancies out there that can help you on the full range of activities required to go carbon neutral, or you may prefer to work with different partners for different activities. Not every company with an ambition to do better for the climate will need to be leaders of course, and there are many options and levels of support available to help you deliver your program. It can be a bit of a jungle to know what to look for, but your choice of partner should ultimately be determined by what you are able (or want) to do yourself and which activities you need help with. Aspects that might help guide your choice include: / Can you construct your carbon footprint yourself? / Are you able to reduce your emissions internally with existing resources? / Are you aware of the best ways to green your electricity supply and able to execute on them? / Do you know enough about carbon offsetting to do the trading of certificates yourself? Choosing the right partner to get going is important but as with any supplier partnership, you need to review your needs continuously. As you mature and grow your carbon neutrality drive, your needs for external support may change. In practice, you may find that you will work with a number of different organizations that support you on various topics at various times. STEP 02: FIND YOUR PARTNER Find your partner STEP 02