By: Emma Abrams
Last year, 2023, was the warmest year on record. 2023 was an average 1.48 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial temperatures. Looking forward to the year ahead, scientists are raising alarms about the need to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions quickly in order to limit warming to the 1.5 degree goal set by the Paris Climate Agreement. Carlo Buontempo of the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service says we must “urgently decarbonise our economy whilst using climate data and knowledge to prepare for the future”.
So what do we need to do in 2024 to get on track to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030? There’s lots of things we can do as individuals, but it’s also time for businesses to start implementing more sustainable practices. Try adopting some of these New Year’s Resolutions and dedicate 2024 to making your business better for the planet!
- Complete our Simple Sustainability Assessment: Sustainable business is all about measuring your company’s social, environmental and economic bottom lines, but many companies aren’t sure what to measure, which is why we created the Emerger Strategies Simple Sustainability Assessment. Start your sustainability journey today!
- Complete a carbon footprint measurement: You can’t manage what you are not measuring! Start off this year by measuring the carbon footprint of your business so you can better understand what areas need the most improvement. A complete carbon footprint will allow you to identify high emission ‘hotspots’ that you may have been unaware of.
- Take steps to reduce your carbon emissions: Once you know your business’ emissions ‘hotspots’, you can start implementing ways to reduce these emissions. As we talked about in a previous blog article, consider switching to energy-efficient lighting and start implementing a sustainable procurement policy and waste reduction program. Your business can also take advantage of IRA tax credits to improve energy efficiency or switch your business’ vehicles to electric.
- Offset what you can’t reduce: Couple action to reduce emissions with buying reliable carbon offsets. If there are some emissions your business can’t cut out this year, carbon offsets will help you achieve carbon neutrality by compensating for what you can’t reduce.
- Educate yourself and employees: Take time to educate yourself and your employees about why taking these actions to be more climate-friendly are so important! Talk to your employees about what they can do to help reduce the carbon footprint of the company- like carpooling or biking to work.
- Talk to fellow business owners about going green in 2024: There is a growing number of businesses taking steps to be more sustainable, and more and more resources available to make it easy to be sustainable. You might consider joining groups of fellow business owners like the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance or Association of Climate Change Officers to share resources, support and information with people in your industry working to reduce their carbon footprint.
Last year, Emerger Strategies helped our clients measure and reduce their carbon footprints, achieve sustainability certifications and comply with reporting requirements. If you are just starting your sustainable business journey or need help achieving your sustainable New Year’s Resolutions, contact us today!
Emma is our 2023 Summer Sustainability Intern, and a sophomore at the University of Delaware, where she is majoring in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. She spent her first semester studying in Auckland, New Zealand. While an avid world traveler, the lowcountry will always be home; She grew up swimming and tossing cast nets in the creeks around Charleston and Edisto, and her love for this environment drives her passion for sustainability. Emma has long been involved in environmental activism, and now hopes to make a career in protecting the ecosystems and communities she cares about. With experience in advocacy, research, data analysis and a healthy dose of optimism, she hopes to bring a fresh perspective and new solutions to the environmental field. Emma is excited to be working with Emerger Strategies to help Charleston create a greener future.
