The forthcoming financial year end brings us to the final stages of drafting our commitment declaration for PAS 2060, to be based on an averaged 2-year baseline. This aims to help mitigate any fluctuations/atypical 2021 figures from internal residual COVID measures. Our proposed Carbon Management Plan shortlists near term (Scope 1 and 2) target areas and our first steps towards Scope 3 reduction goals. Priority areas will surround education to modify behaviours, probably the single greatest contributor to successful carbon reduction.

I have revisited the contents of our commitment declaration, refreshing my comprehension of the Greenhouse Gas Protocols, to help document the relevant trigger points that would lead us to redeclaration – assisted by training and forums surrounding best practice via our SCSS and EMC memberships.

Some events are obvious (e.g., major company reorganisation), but others require judgement…like at what point smaller cumulative changes or collective minor errors might call any existing declaration into question. I have regularly rechecked baseline data during collation to test for logging failures or modification of approach, as comprehension of our findings develops. Revisions undertaken to date tell me this was worth doing!

A key area for contemplation, especially as we move onto tackling Scope 3 is the popular ‘science-based targets’ (SBTi) route and what positive influence understanding this better could have on our current corporate NZC approach. It is not our plan to join this framework, but we acknowledge the importance of assisting in limiting global warming to the 1.5°C threshold from the Paris Agreement. I’ll let you know how I get on!