In this episode of ClimateTalks we meet Cercarbono, a voluntary carbon certification program that facilitates and guarantees the registration of climate change mitigation projects.
The Biden administration is pushing for high-quality voluntary carbon markets to combat the climate change crisis.
In this episode of ClimateTalks we meet Verra to discuss how they are facilitating a sustainable transition through carbon offsetting.
In this article we will explore the key differences between carbon removal vs. carbon avoidance and tell you how to choose between them.
Market clarity empowers businesses to leverage verified high-quality carbon offsets and maximize their net-zero goals. Explore how these offsets are measured and find the perfect fit for your sustainability journey.
IETA promotes carbon credits for bridging the emissions gap, but emphasizes responsible use through new guidelines for climate action.
Under pressure from investors, large companies and corporations are raising their expectations for certified carbon-neutral transportation. This trend is particularly visible in the case of urban mobility, business travel and last-mile deliveries. Investor and government requirements around decarbonization are becoming more stringent, while at the same time, compliance and transparency regulations around companies’ environmental impact are increasing in number and scope. The pressure to comply with environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria is real, particularly for large companies backed by institutional investors. Beyond supporting investors in identifying and mitigating environmental, social and governance risks, ESG performance is correlated with value creation for shareholders. It is becoming increasingly clear that companies with a strong ESG performance tend to be more efficient, less wasteful, more productive and enjoy more commitment from employees, which makes them more attractive to both capital and talent. Employees’ urban mobility Large companies have identified a low-hanging fruit to begin identifying and mitigating ESG risks: their employees’ and directors’ urban and metropolitan commute, particularly by taxi. Luckily for the HR and sustainability managers of these corporations, some taxi operators have begun integrating advanced digital services of high added value for their corporate clients. The operators and their mobile apps are starting to report on the carbon footprint of their rides. One example of this sustainable urban mobility trend is Cabify, an app operating in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay. Since 2020, this ride-sharing operator has been sending yearly certificates guaranteeing CO2 emission offsetting to its corporate and institutional clients registered on its Cabify for Business (C4B). Thanks to ClimateTrade’s technological support, Cabify’s urban mobility app can offer its thousands of corporate clients in eight countries the digital tools they need to implement more sustainable corporate policy, and to pursue a traceable corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy around the urban mobility of their employees. This trend has been mentioned in various international forums attended by ClimateTrade, such as the Leadership Summit on Mobility Sustainability and Digitization that took place in Seville in November 2021. Business travel Business travel agencies serving large corporations and public organizations have also started their journey towards better environmental practices in their B2B services. These agencies, which specialize in managing flights, accommodation, car rentals, transport and events, are beginning to offer high added value services to their corporate clients, starting with the voluntary offset of business trips’ carbon footprint. Proof of this growing demand, Spain’s business travel association GEBTA is integrating ClimateTrade’s digital solutions to generate CO2 offsetting certificates for the business trips its members organize. With this initiative, travel agencies are supporting their own CSR strategy, as well as their corporate and institutional clients’. Last mile delivery Urban and long-distance logistics and delivery operators are becoming more aware of their own shortfalls around managing the ESG risks of their activities. They are starting to collect environmental data for their delivery vehicle fleets and preparing to share carbon footprint data with their end clients, particularly in the B2B sphere. Operators are also working internally with their operations and digitization managers to incorporate solutions such as APIs and widgets, allowing them to manage relevant data and create a B2B space and a shared dashboard with their clients to monitor the carbon footprint of deliveries. With ClimateTrade’s technological support, some logistics companies in Latin America (Colombia, Mexico, Chile) are starting to innovate in this area, with the goal of dramatically improving the quality of their B2B services. In 2022, these operators are expected to announce the first premium B2B services including the automated generation of carbon-neutral delivery certificates guaranteeing the offset of each delivery’s CO2 emissions. ClimateTrade’s digital solutions In the coming years, all products will be benchmarked by CO2, and consumers will know exactly how much they pollute before buying them, which will influence their purchasing habits. Carbon-neutral products and services are a necessity. But making it happen is easier said than done. It requires automated carbon footprint calculation and a reliable platform to give customers full visibility on where the carbon credits are generated. ClimateTrade helps companies to fulfil their most ambitious carbon offsetting commitments, empowering their sustainability strategy with our innovative digital solutions. After noticing the trend towards carbon-neutral products and services, we developed the ClimateTrade API, the first API REST that can be easily and securely integrated into the companies’ systems for them to be able to offer their own customers the possibility of acquiring carbon-neutral products and services during the purchase process. And this month, we launched the ClimateTrade Widget, a tool with similar functionalities, but an even easier integration process, making it ideally suited for SMEs and organizations with limited IT resources. The ClimateTrade API and Widget provide customers with information about the carbon footprint of their purchases and offer them the opportunity to invest in sustainable projects while offsetting it. Explore our case studies to find out how we have implemented these solutions for international clients. ……………… Want to know more? Register on our marketplace and speak to our experts. Article written by Francisco Martín, Head of Engineering and International Key Account Manager at ClimateTrade.
Sustainability comes with its own terminology, and some terms are more similar than others. In this article, we explain the difference between carbon zero and carbon neutral. Carbon Zero We speak of Carbon Zero when there is no production of carbon emissions derived from a product or service, that is, no carbon was emitted from the first moment, so it is not necessary to capture or offset the carbon. For example, a domestic or commercial building that is off the grid, runs entirely on solar energy, and uses zero fossil fuels. Carbon neutral Being “carbon neutral” means removing as much CO2 from the atmosphere as we emit, that is, having a balance between carbon emission and carbon absorption from the atmosphere. To achieve carbon neutrality, the first thing we must do is reduce our carbon footprint through a change in habits and consumption. Your company can also achieve this goal. Initially, critical points in your carbon footprint must be identified and measures taken to reduce those emissions. Some actions can be: Keep energy usage to a minimum or switch to renewable energy, which do not produce carbon dioxide. Limit travel and promote other meeting alternatives, such as video conferencing. Promote electronic communications, reduce paper use and print only when absolutely necessary and try to reuse these prints. Recycle by properly sorting the waste. However, in addition to reducing the carbon footprint, to become carbon neutral what you must do is offset the emissions that cannot be reduced. How? We can help! At Climatetrade we want to give everyone the possibility of offsetting their carbon footprint by supporting sustainable projects that help to mitigate the effects of climate change or those that directly have a positive impact on the environment. We offer you a simple way to offset your carbon footprint, through carbon credits, supporting environmental projects around the world, mainly in emerging countries, with the aim of balancing your own carbon footprints, expressed in tons of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere. [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Located in the Peruvian Amazon, the Yacumama Forest Carbon Project is a 3,200 hectare land preservation project aiming to protect the area’s tropical rainforest and its rich biodiversity. It is a perfect example of the direct positive impact climate finance can have on local ecosystem resilience. The project is estimated to prevent the emission of an average of 72,982 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. On top of the tremendous carbon sequestration potential, the preservation of the Yacumama forest also protects a number of threatened Amazonian species such as the jaguar, the tapir, the sloth, the harpy eagle and the elusive pink dolphin that roams the waters of the Yarapa River as it makes its way to the Amazon. It also provides habitat and nourishment to the seven species of primates that live in the area, a number second only to Uganda, which is home to eight species. And let’s not forget the incredible bird biodiversity of the forest, from hummingbirds to eagles, parrots and macaws. The land on which the project stands is privately owned as a lodge, research, education, and conservation area. The project began in 1992 as an ecotourism destination offering visits and educational workshops to finance its operations. In 2012, it changed its business model and started offering carbon credits to get funding, and today its owners rely heavily on climate financing to maintain their activities. Without it, they may be forced to sell the land to profit-seeking enterprises that would likely harvest the trees to sell them as timber or biomass, and set up agricultural operations in the area. Yacumama means ‘Mother of the Waters’ in Quechua, and this project is very focused on the region’s water ecosystems. Two of the Sustainable Development Goals it contributes to are water-related: SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 14 (life below water). Yacumama also contributes directly to SDGs 3 (health and wellbeing), 13 (climate action) and 15 (life on land). Moreover, Yacumama is also committed to the preservation of indigenous traditions. Register on the ClimateTrade marketplace to find out more and support the project.