|   3 minute read

The Importance of Carbon Credits – Stepping Stones to Net Zero for hard to abate areas of emissions

Halo featured image 9 896x434

As businesses focus increasingly on data, and how they will conform to the EU CSRD (and similar) non-financial reporting requirements, it is important they do not lose sight of those important steps they can already take to address their travel-related carbon footprint, and  to mitigate emissions from hard to abate areas of their operational activities, such as travel and events. As well as identifying areas where emissions can be actively reduced through more responsible travel programmes, investing in certified, high quality and affordable carbon credits is something most businesses can do here and now to offset their unavoidable Scope 3 travel and events emissions. In addition to helping to make the travel programme carbon neutral, carbon offsetting can have wide-reaching and immediate positive impacts on remote and often impoverished communities.

I recently attended the Business Travel Association’s (BTA) sustainability summit, aptly named “Planet Plan”. Luke Irvine, Head of Sustainability at Virgin Atlantic, presented some extremely insightful statistics about Virgin’s Flight 100, which flew from London to New York using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Details of that, and the progress being made in hydrogen powered flights are subjects for a separate, dedicated article. In the context of being in charge of sustainability at an airline pioneering the change to SAF and a future aviation landscape powered by sustainable fuels, one particular comment from Luke Irvine rang out to the audience. This comment was all about the actions we, the business travel consumers of today, need to take right now, with regards to steering the course to Net Zero. The message with regards to carbon credits and removals was loud and clear: “Get the party started”.

Carbon credits invested into well-managed, certified projects that perform to key due diligence criteria, can protect and restore valuable natural resources that are at risk through climate change. Across their lifecycle, some of these long-term projects, are not only increasing forestation, mangroves and other forms of bio-diversity, but they are supporting local communities. Education is the key to positive change, and projects like the Luangwa Community Forests in Zambia, that I visited earlier this year, are playing a critical role by investing in rural education, expanding schools and teaching children how to live with and appreciate nature, and teaching rural farmers how to practice sustainable farming. This in turn helps communities to improve their income, and a better incomes again support the cycle of better health, education and greater opportunities.

ATPI Halo makes it easy for clients to start and join that party, and to help those communities often hardest hit by the impact of emissions largely generated by the developed world.   

Return to previous page