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Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere for hundreds or even thousands of years. For most of the Earth’s history, these greenhouse gases were produced by the natural systems of the planet, and have been in balance. With the advent of the Industrial Age, higher concentrations of these gases have been produced, and created a greenhouse effect, which has led to higher temperatures, higher sea levels, and shifts in global weather patterns. A recent survey of major US corporations showed that 89% were taking action related to climate change against carbon emissions.

fossil fuels causing carbon emissionsMany are driven by pressure from the investment community. They seek to set and achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals that will improve the company’s energy, production, and transportation practices, and better position the company for strategic growth in an uncertain and perhaps uncharted future. As a business, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. Reducing your carbon footprint is no different from starting any other important business initiative.

What is Carbon Footprint?

In fact, many companies in several countries have made a public commitment to become carbon neutral. Meaning that the overall output of carbon emissions will be in effect zero, through in-house carbon reduction initiatives and/or through purchasing offset credits from an accredited provider. Knowing where and how you generate greenhouse gases is the first step to reducing them. Online calculators, assessment and tools, like the World Resources Institute’s Greenhouse Gas Protocol can help you understand, quantify, manage, and report greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gases

Based on your assessment of climate related risks and opportunities, a strategy and action plan can be developed. A plan to reduce carbon emissions should first focus on the type of energy used for electricity, heating, and cooling buildings, as well as the energy you use for transportation. Improving the efficiency of your buildings is one of the most obvious ways to minimize carbon emissions, as buildings can account for almost 35% to 40% of CO2 emissions in a typical company. Carbon sequestration is a natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form.

 

reduce carbon footprint using renewable energiesEcological Footprint

High performing energy-efficient healthy buildings also save money and are proven to improve worker productivity and retention. If possible, move toward electricity sources that emit less carbon to prevent climate change. In many parts of the USA and Canada, customers can choose to have a percentage of their electricity supplied from a renewable energy source, such as hydro power, wind, or solar. These green choice programs are maturing and proving to be a powerful stimulus for growth in renewal energy supply.

renewable energies reduce carbon footprintGHG Emissions and CO2 Emissions

Today more than 50% of all US businesses have an option to purchase some type of green-powered product. At the small business or home business level, tax breaks and incentives can make solar systems and other renewable energy technologies like geothermal energy, more cost-effective. Check with the public utility commission in your state or province for more information. Transportation is another major business contributor of carbon emissions.

carbon emissions reduce carbon foot printCarbon Credit and Carbon Footprint

It includes employee travel and commuting, as well as the distribution of goods and services. Take for example, Punjab Metro Bus project has been implemented in Lahore and Rawalpindi as prescribed by CDM as per Kyoto Protocol for gaining the saleable credits. If you aren’t already looking for ways to make your product distribution operations more efficient, you’re leaving money on the table. Look for opportunities to reduce business travel through video conferencing, which not only reduces emissions, but also saves money. Think about ways to encourage telecommuting when possible. Allowing staff to work from home even one day per week can add up to a reduction in overall emissions. It’s also an employee benefit that has proven popular for employee attraction and retention purposes.

Carbon Footprint Definition

There’s a limit to how much efficiency you can squeeze from your business operations, or how much renewable energy you can employ. The choice for those who wish to compensate for the remaining emissions is to fund an activity by another party that reduces emissions. This is commonly called a carbon offset, or a carbon credit. You can learn more about carbon offsets, and the opportunity they provide, by visiting the websites of The Nature Conservancy, The Carbon Fund, or another reputable non-profit.

The concept of a change in climate can seem overwhelming in country like Pakistan. These changes are going to impact your business in one way or another, through regulatory changes, impacts in your supply chain, and a likely shift in consumer behavior. The good news is, if your organization implements some of the steps we just discussed, you can reduce your own carbon footprint, and save money.

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