LONDON: Climate change consultancy and project developer EcoAct has today launched an approach aimed to help guide businesses and organisations planning for a Net Zero future. The ambitious programme, called A to Zero, covers five modules that EcoAct believe are essential to establishing and working towards a Net Zero target.
A to Zero is a transformational and comprehensive guide for companies to begin establishing their approach, examining all the possible areas that need addressing in five modules. EcoAct provides a working definition of Net Zero for businesses as a starting point for their own planning and target setting.
The aim of A to Zero is to encompass all activities to make sure businesses are fully addressing their response to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on climate change through transforming how they operate, innovate and contribute to limiting the most dangerous impacts of climate change.
The release of the approach comes at a time when there is a proliferation of discussions about Net Zero in the media, businesses and at a government level despite a lack of definition as to what constitutes Net Zero. Alongside this, the urgency of the climate crisis is ever present.
Ensuring that the average global temperature increases no more than the recommended 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels[1] is arguably the biggest challenge of our time[2] and the business sector has a crucial role to play in contributing to managing the risk and developing the opportunities presented through innovation and redesign of traditional, business-as-usual ways of working.
Central to the A to Zero programme is the need to base corporate strategies on climate science, set robust and ambitious targets, significantly reduce emissions through innovation and implement plans to sink carbon emissions equivalent to those released. Alongside this work, businesses will need to take responsibility for their emissions now by financing emissions removals and avoidance through carbon offsetting projects.
John Bamford, Head of Advisory for EcoAct UK said: “We need to take action to reduce and manage greenhouse emissions today if we want to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Political ambitions and guidance on this have been slow and the business sector, now seeing the demands for change from their investors, customers and the public, is stepping up to ensure that their operations are fit for a Net Zero future. A to Zero will help any organisation looking at addressing climate change to take a holistic and comprehensive approach to transformational change.”
EcoAct used its 15 years of experience helping corporates to manage climate change to create the approach and is currently advising a number of clients on their Net Zero ambitions.
Download the A to Zero Factsheet for a Net Zero pathway here.
[2] https://www.climatechangenews.com/2020/01/15/climate-change-tops-risks-for-world-in-2020-davos-report/
