The good news about global warming is that we are still talking about it, despite the current difficult economic circumstances. The downturn’s local consequences are being felt by everyone, so it is heartening that we are maintaining a dialogue on long-term issues. The bad news is that climate change is happening and mankind’s continued contributions are now proven. If unchecked, climate change will continue to grow into a problem that will eclipse today’s financial woes.
Here are some examples of the pending financial costs we will face as the earth’s environment alters: the economic and social impact of 150 million refugees from higher sea levels and lost farmland; greater heating and cooling costs to deal with more extreme temperatures (new highs and lows); rebuilding or relocation of entire regions due to weather and fire events, and crop prices volatility as ecosystems adapt to new weather patterns. These costs will reduce future cash flows to society and therefore they represent a liability for corporations today. Therefore, reducing your company’s impact on global warming and reducing this future liability is a value-creating endeavor.
The growth of green
Companies worldwide reduce their contribution to climate change for many reasons, including complying with a corporate mandate, saving money by using less power, pleasing and retaining employees, improving corporate brand image and also doing ‘the right thing’ in joining the fight against climate change. From Morocco to Iran, there are many examples in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region of companies taking action on carbon emissions. Green building standards are being adopted in the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. Abu Dhabi’s ambitious $15 billion dollar Masdar initiative, with its various funds and programs and a 50,000 resident carbon-neutral city, is a shining example of visionary green thinking that will generate value. Sabban Properties intends to make its $274 million Sabban Towers the first carbon neutral development in the MENA. Renewable energy projects, including wind and solar, are in advanced stages in Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey. Startup recyclers are recovering value from significant construction wastes around the region.
An innovative and cheap way for an organization to reduce its carbon footprint with minimal effort is through the purchase of carbon offsets. Carbon offsets are essentially contracts that commit a third-party project company, usually in low-cost environments, to reduce carbon emissions on the purchaser’s behalf. For example, one offset project in Ethiopia replaces villagers’ kerosene-burning stoves with lower-emission butane stoves.
In order to attain ‘carbon neutrality,’ a person must measure their organization’s carbon footprint and purchase enough offsets to reduce the client’s emissions to zero, making them ‘carbon neutral.’ Then they must work to reduce their footprint so that the following year the number of carbon offsets needed to reduce their emissions to zero is lower than the previous. Eventually, the number of third-party carbon offsets needed to remain carbon neutral will be minimal and the outcome is significant reductions in carbon emissions.
How ‘on’ are offsets?
Opponents to the purchase of carbon offsets claim that they create a feeling of a clean conscience without actually changing the buyer’s behavior. We disagree. By following the process described above, a company can reduce their future liability from carbon emissions by contributing to offset solutions that are already set up. Then, at the same time, the company would be committing to reducing their carbon footprint through internal reductions — thus guaranteeing behavior change. Due to the global nature of climate change, purchasing carbon offsets from elsewhere in the world and reducing emissions locally have the same net effect on this worldwide problem.
The rationality of this argument, when translated to the context of the UAE, for example, would be as follows: an individual in the UAE can purchase carbon offsets worth $400 and reduce his carbon footprint to zero. If that same individual were to purchase and install solar panels on his home to offset his carbon emissions from automobile use and air travel, the system would cost him more than $10,000 and would last for around 10 years, costing him on average, $1,000 per year to achieve carbon neutrality instead of $400 with offsets. And the same thing goes for companies. The average company in the UAE can bring their headquarters, including flights, to carbon neutral for less than $35,000 per year.
The only question is, what are you waiting for? Reducing your carbon footprint is relatively inexpensive, easy to do with local specialists and just might help you sleep better at night.
