Developing a carbon reduction plan

Developing a carbon reduction plan

Photo by Chantal Garnier on Unsplash

The biggest question about carbon reduction focuses on what’s needed to minimise the worst effects of climate change – not what is easy to achieve or manage.

Science-based targets (SBTs) help companies to find what’s needed and to set reduction targets to meet our climate action commitments under the Paris Agreement. Countdown shares the process of developing a plan with the goal of reducing what is enough in this webinar replay.

Countdown developed a carbon reduction plan together with thinkstep-anz that aligns with the approved science-based target of parent company Woolworths Group Australia. Hear from Arveen Horsefield, Sustainability Manager at Countdown, as she shares insights on getting started with measuring emissions, engaging stakeholders, and developing a roadmap for carbon reduction in our replay. Barbara Nebel, our CEO, introduces SBTs, and give an overview of the steps needed to set a science-based target for carbon reduction.

Key takeaways from webinar

  • When it comes to limiting global warming, there is a big difference in the half a degree between 1.5 and 2 degrees. For example, about 14 percent of Earth’s population will be exposed to severe heatwaves at least once every five years with a rise of 1.5 degrees. This figure jumps to 37 percent with a rise of 2 degrees.
  • It is important to engage with stakeholders from various parts of the company to create an initial list of carbon reduction ideas that draws on knowledge of existing and previous initiatives and issues.
  • Supply chain engagement is a necessary component of reducing an organisation’s carbon footprint, especially where Scope 3 emissions are concerned.  
  • To find the value of a carbon reduction pathway, you need to be prepared to get into the details. Company boards and executive teams will be interested in understanding the numbers around the cost of reduction ideas and their impact on emissions profile.

 The full webinar recording can be downloaded below.

Additional resources

Keen to know more? Check out our Countdown case study for more details on the process for Countdown's carbon reduction pathway. 

 

June 2021

Measuring carbon

Barbara Nebel 23

Meet our CEO Barbara Nebel. She describes her role as a translator; translating sustainability into business language. Under her leadership, thinkstep-anz become set an approved science based target with the Science Based Targets initiative and became Zero Carbon certified with Ekos. Barbara has worked with organisations across New Zealand, Australia, Asia and Europe. She chaired the New Zealand working group for the development of ISO standards for Carbon Footprinting, is a Certified LCA Practitioner and an associate editor for the International Journal of LCA.

Connect with Barbara

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