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The Frog will explore The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions by Heidi Roop in the first 100 days of 2024
In the first `100 days of 2024 we will explore 100 climate solutions that may “empower you to evaluate, engage, and act” to address on-going climate change as an individual on your terms.
Many companies and governments are making a convenient claim to be “net-zero by 2050” or some other year. To be net-zero, the greenhouse gases emitted by a company must be offset by the same amount removed from the atmosphere. To make a real impact, a company must set realistic, science-based, data-driven targets, make investments in technology and processes, and track, verify, and document the progress made against the targets.
We should be naturally skeptical of and scrutinize the claims that a company makes. There is often a focus on Scope 1 emissions, which are those that can be controlled directly by the company. A company might have a plan for Scope 2 emissions associated with the the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling for their operations. Scope 3 emissions, the indirect emissions associated with the company’s supply chains, are important because they can account for over 80% of the company’s emissions and may be the toughest to tackle.
As part of their plan, a company may choose to use carbon offsets which are an economic strategy where a company offsets their emissions by “supporting projects that reduce, avoid, or remove emissions elsewhere”. Essentially, a company can decide to do nothing themselves, but rather pay another entity to plant a tree or sequester greenhouse gases on their behalf. The use of carbon offsets is controversial and confused by both a lack of regulatory oversight and the difficulty in tracking the effectiveness and real climate impact.
“A healthy dose of skepticism and a keen eye for detail are needed when looking at a company’s (or a government’s) climate commitments”
Heidi Roop
When researching a company, you should pay particular attention to the commitments made to address Scope 3 emissions and whether they rely heavily on offsets which may be used as a smokescreen to mask a lack of commitment to actually reducing emissions. Another tactic to be aware of is a reliance on carbon capture and storage technologies which, although promising, are far from being deployed at scale. When considering a company’s climate claims, overuse of terms like offsets, climate-neutral, and carbon capture should motivate you to dig deeper. Check out the net-zero plan for ExxonMobil to sharpen your skepticism skills.
As we have been discussing, your action starts with knowledge and research on how the companies and governments you care about are setting climate goals and how they are approaching addressing those goals. The power you have is in the dollars you choose to spend, whether you choose to raise your voice, and how you cast your votes and influence your elected officials. Savvy use of social media is important too: call out the companies you research if you find their plans lacking, highlight any weakness or lack of commitment you find, and call on them to take positive action for real change.
Next Up: Climate Action in 2024 – Day 28: Eat Your Broccoli, and Pass on the Meat
Back to 100 Climate Solutions
Howard Creel
#rescuethatfrog
Email: rescuethatfrog@gmail.com