How to create a decarbonization roadmap for your business – The Irish Times

With climate change a constant threat, government and business are focused on decarbonization, but how can organizations set realistic and achievable decarbonization goals and make a real difference in the fight against climate change? What standards can they apply?

Decarbonization is a global priority in mitigating climate change, says Derarka Dennis, EY Ireland insurance partner and sustainability leader. “The European Union and Ireland have set ambitious decarbonization targets.

“At EU level, the European Green Deal aims to make Europe climate neutral by 2050. This ambitious goal was supported by individual member states, including Ireland. Ireland has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 51 percent by 2030 compared to 2018 levels and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.”

Dennis says the government’s ambitious decarbonization targets present challenges and opportunities for organizations. “To meet the government’s decarbonization targets, organizations must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting ambitious but achievable targets, improving energy efficiency, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and taking steps to transition to cleaner energy sources, as well as improving resource cycling,” adds she.

Organizations can set informed and effective decarbonization goals by first conducting a baseline carbon assessment, “accurately quantifying an organization’s greenhouse gas emissions across its entire operations and value chain.”

“This is calculated across three tiers (Scope 1, 2 and 3) and provides a basis for understanding an organization’s emissions profile and identifying its key emission sources.

“Benchmarking with industry peers can help organizations gain valuable insight into successful decarbonization strategies and initiatives. This could also open up opportunities for industry collaboration.”

Assessing domestic capabilities is essential to setting a realistic and achievable decarbonization goal, says Dennis, adding: “It provides resources, feasibility and facilitates support for developing a decarbonization roadmap, ensuring that specific actions are assigned to the appropriate people within an agreed time frame and across the globe.” various functional units within the organization.

“Regular monitoring and tracking of goals is critical to maintaining progress and managing risks. By following these steps, organizations can begin to effectively contribute to the fight against climate change through their decarbonization efforts.”

Setting effective decarbonization targets requires a structured approach; “Organizations can apply different concepts and standards to manage their operations,” says Dennis.

“The Greenhouse Gas Protocol provides organizations with a standardized methodology and guidance to accurately calculate their carbon footprint,” she says.

“The Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) offers guidance on setting ambitious goals related to climate science. The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) enables organizations to measure, manage and disclose their environmental impact.”

The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) provides organizations with a structured approach to assessing and managing climate-related risks and opportunities that can support their decarbonization efforts. By understanding and considering these financial implications, organizations can make informed decisions and effectively allocate resources to achieve their decarbonization goals, explains Dennis.

“In addition, ISO 14064 offers guidance on quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions. It can be used by organizations of any size to create a robust emissions management system.”

The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) requirement for climate change-related disclosures under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) represents a step towards greater transparency and accountability for an organization’s climate-related activities, says Dennis .

“Organizations included in the study are required to disclose details of their Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions, as well as their decarbonization goals and strategies.”

There are a number of resources available in the market where organizations can access the expertise and support to set and achieve effective decarbonization targets, including specialist consultants, government agencies, NGOs, as well as online resources such as GHG Protocol, CDP, SBTi, Future Planet and Change by Degrees are just a few, says Dennis.

Aoife O’Donnell, head of sustainability at Jones Engineering, says the construction and engineering industry is responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly through building materials and energy consumption.

“As a company, we recognize the critical need to decarbonize and have made it a priority to reduce emissions across our operations and supply chain, including working with our customers and suppliers in decarbonization efforts,” says O’Donnell.

Jones Engineering has committed to reducing Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50.4 percent by 2032, compared to a 2022 baseline, it adds.

“We also set a target to reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 50.4 percent over the same period. Our targets have been endorsed by SBTi and form part of our wider sustainability strategy.”

To set their decarbonization targets, Jones conducted a thorough baseline assessment of their emissions associated with their value chain and operations, identified key emissions hotspots, and used the Science-Based Targets initiative’s decarbonization pathways to ensure their targets are aligned with the 1.5 pathway degrees. says O’Donnell.

“We have developed a decarbonization plan in collaboration with key business stakeholders. This gives us a clear path to achieve our goals.”