The decarbonization of the economy is one of the fundamental steps for the world to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement, a commitment made by 195 countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The next decade will be the period for implementing solutions aimed at containing global warming to 2°C, with a view to 1.5°C, compared to the pre-industrial period. Disruptive solutions will be needed to contain Brazilian emissions, mainly from deforestation, given that the country has committed to reducing GHG emissions into the environment by 37% by 2025, compared to 2005.
The commitment is ambitious, since emissions in 2018 amounted to 1.939 billion tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) equivalent. The performance represented an index 0.3% higher compared to 2017, according to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions System(Seeg), from the Climate Observatory.
The industrial sector, which accounts for 5% of total emissions, is making progress in its commitments to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations, that is, reducing possible emissions and neutralizing those that are unavoidable, through measures such as planting trees, for example.
This transition to a carbon-neutral economy can open up new economic opportunities and help create jobs. A report by New Climate Economy shows that this shift could create a direct economic gain opportunity of US$1.4 trillion, and 65 million new jobs by 2030. Nevertheless, more than 900 companies have made ambitious commitments through initiatives such as the We Mean Business It's from Global Compact. Of these, more than 550 are committed to reducing emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement and 175 have committed to switching to 100% of renewable electricity with RE100.
Check below what companies associated with CEBDS do to neutralize their GHG emissions.
Ambev
Cervejaria Ambev is the first Brazilian company in the beverage industry to sign the global commitment Business Ambition for 1.5°C. By joining the campaign, the company will be evaluated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which will measure the impacts of its current production and define a personalized target to contain the increase in the Earth's temperature. The deadline for adapting to the new model is two years.
Joining the new pact reinforces the initiatives that Ambev has carried out in recent years to minimize the impact of its business on its value chain.
ecolab
A global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, Ecolab will also align its operations and supply chain with the movement Business Ambition for 1.5⁰ C of the UN Global Compact, and will adopt measures to reduce its CO2 emissions by half by 2030 and to zero by 2050. The company will begin the transition of its energy matrix to use 100% of renewable energy in all its operations; will expand energy efficiency projects in its units, offices and operations worldwide; will start using electric energy in its vehicle fleet, in locations where this technology is already available; and will work together with its suppliers and partners to adopt equally ambitious climate goals.
Ipiranga
Ipiranga has been offsetting direct and indirect emissions (Scope 1 and 2 – according to the GHG Protocol methodology) from its operations since 2013. In addition, since 2007, it has been offering options for consumers to offset greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fuel in their vehicles through various initiatives: Km de Vantagens, Ipiranga Cards, Posto na Web and others. To guarantee this commitment, Ipiranga acquires internationally certified carbon credits. One carbon credit is equal to one ton of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂and).
Microsoft
The software company has made an ambitious commitment to be carbon negative by 2030 and to remove from the environment all the carbon the company has emitted directly or through electrical consumption since it was founded in 1975 by 2050. The company has also launched an initiative that uses Microsoft technology to help suppliers and customers reduce their own carbon footprints, as well as a new $1 billion Climate Innovation Fund to accelerate the global development of carbon reduction, capture and removal technologies. Starting in 2021, the company will also make carbon reduction an explicit aspect of our procurement processes for our supply chain.
Natura
In 2007, Natura launched the Carbon Neutral Program to account for, reduce and neutralize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. From 2007 to 2013, the company reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 33% and aims to reduce a further 33% by 2020. The program is divided into internal actions and permeates its entire production chain, from the extraction of raw materials to the final disposal of packaging after use. In 2019, the Natura &Co group – which includes the brands Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop – signed a pact with 87 other global companies to reduce its carbon emissions and prevent global warming from exceeding 1.5ºC, compared to the average temperature of the pre-industrial era. The ultimate goal is to achieve a carbon neutral economy by 2050. The action is part of the campaign “Business Ambition for 1.5°C: Our Only Future”.
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric, a leader in digital transformation in energy management and automation, announced in 2019 in New York that it was stepping up its carbon neutrality drive to combat the main cause of global warming. The company is committed to achieving carbon neutrality across its entire ecosystem within the next five years. Schneider also aims to have zero emissions in its operations by 2030 and to reach a commitment with its suppliers to achieve a clean supply chain by 2050.
OK
Vale has announced that it intends to neutralize its carbon emissions by 2050. The company already had a goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 16% by 2030, in line with the United Nations (UN) Paris Agreement. Now, to neutralize emissions by 2050, the company will need to reduce emissions by 33%. This reduction goal refers to the so-called scopes one and two, which involve the company's internal emissions in its processes (production, traffic and trains, wagons and trucks, for example). In 2020, Vale will also announce a goal for scope 3, which involves the chain associated with mining: metallurgy and navigation, for example.
Does your company have any commitments to be carbon neutral? Share them with us at comunicacao@cebds.org
And finally, five things companies need to do to prepare for a net zero future.
1) Commit to net zero emissions
2) Assess climate risks
3) Set ambitious science-based targets (SBTs)
4) Collaborate, engage and communicate
5) Consider what to do with emissions you cannot reduce.
