CARBON NEUTRAL ENTERPRISES

The Carbon Neutral Enterprises work package aims at creating possibilities for companies not included in the European emissions trading scheme (EUETS) for greenhouse gases to be engaged in CDM (Clean Development Mechanisms) or JI (Joint Implementation) projects . It is related to the implementation of the Kyoto protocol, which creates opportunities to work with new incentives in order to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. Approximately 18 000 different plants aroundEuropeare already included in the EUETS. Within the SECURE project, a system will be constructed to facilitate companies to reach climate neutrality. This work package was undertaken in close co-operation with all partners in the project since different companies, organizations or authorities in each participating city had to calculate their emissions of greenhouse gases in order to produce a tool for calculating the emissions.
Respect Europe is a consultancy firm that inspires and assists the business community in becoming responsible corporate citizens. Within the SECURE project, the main focus will be on how to help companies to calculate their emissions in order to enable implementation of actions based on the findings from the calculations.

Documents for download

A general description of the system with carbon neutral enterprises
The document can be downloaded here in EnglishWord (word, 110 kB), SwedishWord (word, 120 kB), Estonian, and RussianWord (word, 140 kB).

A methodology document on how the system with climate or carbon neutral enterprises will work
The document can be downloaded here in EnglishWord (word, 280 kB) and SwedishWord (word, 250 kB).

A scientific audit of the system with carbon neutral enterprises was performed by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute. The document can be downloaded herePDF (pdf, 160 kB).

In order to be able to use the tool in Dublin, Codema has made a new version of the Calculation tool with the Irish indata. The documents are available for free download.

Company Energy Audit Including the Calculation of a Company´s Greenhouse Gas Emissions,Manual, version 1.0 including Commuting Download herePDF (pdf, 190 kB)

Calculation of a Company's Greenhouse Gas Emission data collection tool Download hereExcel (excel, 110 kB)

For further information about the documents contact Joe Hayden, Codema. www.codema.ieexternal link, opens in new window   



Susanna Winblad from the Environmental Department of the City of Malmö commented on the work progress in 2007:

During this spring of 2007 the work with climate neutral companies has started, following the action plan developed by Respect. The action plan has been promoted to companies and participants partly at the information meetings at two different occasions and partly through marketing in the media. Since climate issues have been buzzed-about we have had much publicity and the interest for the action plan is great.

The city of Malmö looks at this as a process where we give companies and participants a push in the right direction by giving them a concrete tool to work with. The action plan consists of three steps, where the first two make the central point in the climate work. The first step is the inventory where one with a help of a calculation tool, based on the GHG protocol, states values for energy use, transports and so on. Based on the results, one continues with step two which is an action programme to reduce discharge as far as possible. The last step towards becoming climate neutral is to compensate for the remaining discharges through investments in flexible mechanisms. Respect offers guidance through all steps and offers two workshops for all participants in the programme.In the city of Malmö a quite modest group of five companies has started the work with the programme. The Environmental Department of the City of Malmö is one of the participants in the programme. For us the work at this stage is about creating credibility for what we do and at the same time it is a valuable experience to go through the action plan since we´ll be the ones promoting the concept.So far, the participants have been positive about the work with the programme. The work will continue, fostering the exchange experiences.