2 minute read
Finding new innovative carbon solutions
Businesses and landowners have a huge part to play in delivering on the net zero agenda, but this will mean taking steps to evaluate and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
The impacts of climate change have come into clear focus, with rising incidences of drought, wildfires, disease pressures on crops and extreme flooding. All issues that once might have seemed a distant concern, are now knocking on the UK’s door.
There is an urgent need to better quantify our net greenhouse gas contributions, to better plan, invest and respond with effective and meaningful changes that, not only contribute to CO2-e reductions, but also increase business efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
Carbon management is a key responsibility for all organisations, businesses, and landowners. In the past, carbon measurements have been focused on larger more visible actions such as switching from fossil fuel-based energy sources to renewable sources. However, there is now greater emphasis on identifying strategies to reduce or avoid emissions across all aspects of a business or supply chain.
Stages Of Carbon Management
For carbon management services to be effective, they need to be tailored specifically to individual businesses or supply chains.
There are varying opportunities for carbon mitigation along each stage of the supply chain depending on a range of factors, including land use, power sources, size of operation, current carbon management efforts, international trade, and cultural traditions. These changes would need to happen across the entirety of a company’s supply chain, as well as examining and addressing any additional emissions that occur as indirect emissions. These indirect emissions have traditionally been the most difficult to address, but finding ways to minimise these emissions going forward will be essential.
Relying on past metrics is no longer an option, bespoke solutions that optimise each link in the supply chain will need to be developed. This involves identifying the right data needed to quantify mitigation potentials and then providing most appropriate strategies to deliver actions and solutions for carbon reduction targets.
To find these solutions, experts need to work with each stakeholder to evaluate the carbon mitigation and reduction potential, as well as understand what each group is (or is not) able to do. Targets like those used in the Science Based Targets initiatives (SBTi) are good starting goals for any company trying to lower their carbon footprint. Finding achievable solutions that meet carbon standards will be the most important part of building a net zero future.
Carbon Evaluation Tools
New and exciting technologies are increasingly being developed and improving our ability to evaluate the carbon mitigation and reduction potential of a business. For landbased organisations, one promising new tool is the potential for laser equipped drones to quickly evaluate the total above ground biomass and better allow farmers to quantify and sell their carbon via carbon markets.
Post-farm gate options, such as advanced carbon calculators and specialist evaluations, can help to limit potential emissions. SAC Consulting can help to identify areas of higher emissions and find innovative ways of reducing the carbon potential of each business.
Reducing Emissions And Finding Solutions
Whether your motivation is to manage carbon emissions to increase sequestration on your lands for better carbon market financing, lower overall emissions from your supply chain, or evaluate where you can meet science-based targets, there are many ways to help support and guide the work towards a lower carbon future.
Throughout the process, finding the right solution for your business is of the utmost importance. Engaging the support of carbon management experts can help to avoid unnecessary pitfalls and maximise benefits through identifying strategies that will reduce emissions, whilst potentially improving efficiency and productivity. As carbon management becomes increasingly important for businesses, there is a need to implement solutions effectively if we are to achieve net zero targets and help to stop the effects of climate change. Better carbon management means better outcomes and ultimately a better world.
