IPCC says Paris Agreement is not enough. This is what companies can do:

In case amidst your weekend of giving thanks you missed it, the IPCC released a dire report on the state of our climate.

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), created by the United Nations, is an international body of scientists that review scientific research (from thousands of scientists across the globe) to determine the environmental, social, political and economic impacts of climate change.

The newest report was written by more than 90 scientists and based on over 6000 peer reviews. It finds that the commitments made under the Paris Agreement are clearly insufficient for preventing a warming of more than 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. Human activities are estimated to have caused between 0.8 - 1.2 °C of global warming already, and at the current rate it is projected that we will reach 1.5 °C between 2030 and 2052.

The UN Environment’s summaries it as:

Given North America’s current political climate—the EPA’s crusade to undo previous climate policy regulations in the United States; four provinces in Canada refusing to adopt the Federal Government’s Climate Framework; the Federal government’s purchase of a pipeline; the approval of an LNG project; and a North American trade agreement that puts the climate last—we have our work cut out for us. Now more than ever it is imperative that companies and local governments lead the way as we cannot count on our political leaders to lead us out of this.

Measure Emissions and Set Science-Based-Targets

Companies need to understand their climate impacts and set science-based targets that align with the reductions required to prevent more than a 1.5 °C warming. They need to work to meet—or beat—these targets.

Adopt An Internal Carbon Fee

Introducing an internal carbon fee can enable companies to redistribute their finances into initiatives that help them meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets while minimizing the business-risks associated with climate change.

Offset Emissions

Companies can take this commitment one step further and be carbon neutral. While they work to reduce their footprint, they can purchase carbon offsets that address unavoidable emissions while supporting clean technologies and sustainable development. By sourcing offsets that are ICROA-compliant, companies can assure their emissions reductions are third-party verified, real, additional and permanent.  

Offsetters is here to help organizations understand and lower their environmental impacts. We can help you set science-based targets and work to achieve them. By joining a growing network of companies moving ahead on climate in the absence of strong government leadership, companies can become part of a better story. The UN Environment’s Erik Solheim puts it:

The time to act is now.

 

* UN Environment (2018, Oct 8). "Rapid and unprecedented action required to stay within 1.5ºC says UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change." Retrieved from  https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/rapid-and-unprecedented-action-required-stay-within-15oc-says-uns