Carbon Footprint
On this page, you’ll find lots of resources related to carbon footprint if you want to learn more. But if you only take one thing away after visiting this page, it should be that whatever your business’s carbon footprint is today, there are plenty of ways it can be reduced in the future.
The Basics
Where To Start?
Case Study
Carbon Footprint is the term used to describe how much greenhouse gases our activities generate. It’s a useful way to measure the impact that individuals, households, organisations and communities have on the planet. For your business it can include the direct impact of your business activities – for example – the gases emitted from the energy used during your manufacturing process. How the energy used by your business is generated has an impact too – if you use renewable energy from wind farms your business’s energy use will have a lower footprint than if that energy comes from coal-generated electricity. The building in which your business is based can be another factor, along with how your products and services are delivered. Your business’s carbon footprint can also include the wider impact of your business, the expected lifetime of your products and how they are disposed of when they can no longer be used.
Resources Library
Race To Zero Campaign
The UN’s Race To Zero Campaign is the global campaign to bring together leaders in government and commerce alike to work towards a resilient net zero carbon economy for all. https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign#eq-1
The Climate Jargon Buster
The Climate Jargon Buster from the EPA, Comhairle na nÓg and NALA sets out straightforward meanings behind key sustainability terms that are becoming part of day-to-day discourse https://climatejargonbuster.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ClimateJargonBuster_A-Z_a.pd
WWF – Emission Possible
WWF’s Emission Possible is their business guide to reducing emissions, it sets out how businesses play a role in climate change and how reporting and reducing your business’s impact can play its part....
Your Plan, Your Planet
Your Plan, Your Planet from Google offers a range of simple sustainability tips to reduce your carbon footprint, from water saving and energy conservation to food storage. These could be adapted to your business setting or to help your employees get involved with...
Google’s Sustainability Mission
Google’s sets out their Sustainability mission and how they plan to become carbon free by 2030. https://sustainability.google
Google’s Carbon-Free Energy Plan
Google explains the Difference Between Carbon Neutrality, 100% Renewable Energy, and Carbon-Free Energy and what they have done so far on their journey towards 24/7 carbon-free energy. Google's 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Explainer
6 Business Benefits of Setting Science-Based Targets
The SBTi offers 6 Business Benefits of Setting Science-Based Targets and draws from a survey on the experiences of businesses already participating in the partnership. If you are struggling to persuade the skeptics in your organisation, these arguments might do the...
The Science-Based Targets Initiative
The Science-Based Targets Initiative is the global partnership and Call to Action for private businesses to align with the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5°C. Here you can find out which businesses have committed to the SBTi, sector-based advice for...
Tips to Reduce Your Emissions
Find out some tips from the UN’s Climate Change Convention on how to reduce business emissions, from management strategies, to transport and saving energy. https://unfccc.int/climate-action/climate-neutral-now/reduce-your-emissions/tips-to-reduce-your-emissions
The Climate Jargon Quiz
Once you’ve taken a look at the Climate Jargon Buster, try your hand at their Quiz and see how well you do. https://climatejargonbuster.ie/quiz/