Carbon footprint® and low-carbon strategy: the role of the expert

Companies are aware of the need to engage in sustainable practices to meet environmental, social and economic challenges, but do they have a thorough understanding of them?

🎯 Environmental, economic and social issues

🌿 O ne of the factors linked to everyone's duty to move towards sustainability is thegrowing impact of human activities on the environment.

Environmental degradation, climate change, loss of biodiversity and depletion of natural resources are realities that cannot be ignored. As players in the global economy, companies have a crucial role to play in reducing their environmental footprint.

One of our major objectives is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These emissions are directly linked to global warming and its negative consequences. What's more, according to a study by the CSA Institute for LinkedIn and ADEME, 78% of employees would choose to join a company committed to the ecological transition, given equivalent offers. Companies are increasingly recognizing the need to measure, understand and reduce their GHG emissions. This is not only to help mitigate climate change, but also to mitigate cost, image and regulatory risks.

💶 Economic issues are also a key motivating factor. The rising costs of energy, raw materials and various inputs, as well as the risks associated with price volatility, are driving companies to adopt more resource-efficient and energy-efficient practices. The aim is to optimize costs and improve profitability.

🧍 What's more, consumers and investors are increasingly sensitive to environmental and social issues. Companies that engage in sustainable practices have a competitive advantage, as they appeal to a wider, climate-conscious public, and are better positioned to attract investment.

Finally, the expectations of stakeholders, including employees, customers and local communities, are evolving. Companies are required to take into account the social aspects of their business, particularly in terms of ethics, social responsibility and respect for human rights.

Sustainability has become a factor of competitiveness and durability for companies.

📊 GHG inventory®: A Key Tool for Sustainability

At the heart of this transition to sustainability lies the "GHG inventory®". GHG inventory® is an essential tool for quantifying an organization's carbon footprint. It measures the GHG emissions generated by a company's activities. These emissions are classified into 4 scopes:

🌿 Scope 1: Includes direct emissions from sources controlled by the company, such as combustion emissions from its facilities or vehicles.

🌿🌿 Scope 2: Includes indirect emissions linked to the production of electricity or heat that the company purchases from third parties.
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🌿🌿🌿 Scope 3: Includes indirect emissions linked to the company's activities, but which are outside its direct control, such as emissions from the supply chain or employee travel.

🌿🌿🌿🌿 Scope 4: Includes emissions avoided through the use of a product that replaces other goods or services, fulfilling the same functions but with a lower carbon intensity.

The aim of the GHG inventory® is to provide a clear and detailed picture of the company's GHG emissions, enabling key areas for reduction to be identified and actions to be implemented to minimize environmental impact.

👨‍🏫Focus on the key competence of a carbon expert: the license to use ADEME's GHG inventory® method.

GHG inventory® experts, also known as carbon consultants, generally have a multidisciplinary profile combining technical, scientific and management skills, such as :

🎓 A background in environmental sciences or related fields
📉 Skills in data analysis to assess GHG emissions.
🧑‍⚖️ In-depth knowledge of international protocols and standards (GHG Protocol, ISO 14064....)
🖥️ Mastery of GHG inventory® tools
💬 Project management and strategic consulting
⚖️ Professionalethics
⭐ Certifications and approvals, which is one of the most important skills, such as obtaining the license to use the ADEME GHG inventory® method.

The license to use ADEME's GHG inventory® method gives companies, organizations and consultants access to the methodology and tools developed by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) to carry out their GHG inventory®. Here are a few points about this license:

✅ Access to the methodology: The GHG inventory® license gives holders access to the documents, guides and tools needed to implement this methodology. It includes the essential elements for carrying out a GHG inventory® in accordance with ADEME standards.

✅ Training: Users of this license have often undergone specific training to understand the methodology and associated best practices. This training can be provided by accredited organizations.

✅ Compliance and Quality: ADEME ensures that license users comply with quality standards and good practices in the application of the GHG inventory® method.

✅ Ethical use: Users of the license agree to use the methodology ethically, transparently and in accordance with the principles of GHG emissions measurement. This helps maintain the credibility and integrity of carbon footprints.

✅ Benefits: By obtaining a license to use ADEME's GHG inventory® method, companies and consultants gain access to a recognized framework for measuring and reducing their GHG emissions. This can contribute to more responsible management of their impact on the environment.

🟢 Their role

Here are the main tasks entrusted to him:

• Measuring GHG emissions
• Analyze data
• Setting reduction targets
• Making recommendations
• Integrating sustainability into strategy
• Set up monitoring systems
• Advising on regulatory compliance
• Providing complementary expertise

A carbon expert works alongside organizations to guide them in their transition to sustainability. He or she works to measure, understand and reduce their carbon footprint, while ensuring that these efforts are integrated into their overall carbon strategy to promote both environmental and economic sustainability.

🤝 GCI: Your trusted partner

GCI offers a full range of services, including :

• Support in using GCI tools and understanding the GHG inventory® method. This helps ensure that users get the most out of these resources.
• Help with data entry, validation of results and action plans, and monitoring of impact over time.
• Specialized advice tailored to the organization's sector of activity, maximizing efficiency.

GCI's core business is to provide its customers with a complete 100% digital platform for carrying out GHG emissions assessments and reductions, in full compliance with regulations and with a focus on the principles of support and education.

In addition, Global Climate Initiatives is an active member of APCC (Association des professionnels en Conseil Climat Énergie et Environnement), ABC (Association pour la Transition Bas Carbone) and approved by BPI and ADEME as an expert in the Diag decarbon'action scheme for SMEs, guaranteeing that its tools, training and support comply with the GHG inventory® method.

💪 Multi-sector expertise: The advantages of GCI accredited experts

GCI brings together a network of over 120 GCI-certified experts covering all areas of professional CSR and sustainable development expertise.

These professionals offer on-the-ground support to organizations in their sustainability initiatives, bringing to their vast panel of "business" expertise in a number of sectors.

Some of GCI's accredited experts are trained in ADEME's ACT Pas à Pas methodology, an approach that guides companies in the development and implementation of their decarbonization strategies. The tools offered by GCI, such as reduction action plans, are perfectly aligned with the teachings of this methodology.

Finally, choosing a GCI-accredited expert for carbon consulting is a pledge of quality, expertise and commitment to sustainability. It's a reliable partnership for any organization wishing to measure, understand and reduce its carbon footprint effectively and ethically.

Hear from two of our certified experts on why they chose GCI as part of their service offering.