How to profit from carbon tax?
The government in South Africa has announced another delay in the implementation of carbon tax and it is now due to come into effect on 1 January 2016. To many this has come as a huge relief as carbon tax is seen as an unnecessary burden on business and economic...
“Invest” in sustainability! Don’t justify it as a cost exercise
It is clear that “sustainability” focused initiatives are generally seen as cost containment initiatives or “nice to haves” in terms of business strategies. As a result of this, many of these initiatives are typically moved down the business priority list and never...
The IT department’s carbon conundrum
The climate change debate today is largely irrelevant. Whether we like it or not, carbon taxation and mandatory emissions reporting is on the horizon. For many this represents the proverbial stick (without a carrot) approach, for others managing their carbon...
Sustainability, carbon tax and the 2014 budget
Minister Pravin Gordhan delivered his much anticipated budget on 26 February 2014. In his speech, Minister Gordhan made specific reference to further investment in renewable energy and support for the transition to a low-carbon economy, which is most welcomed....
Every business can reduce emissions and it all counts
Although there has been a significant increase in awareness of environmental issues in the workplace over recent years, businesses can still be slow in taking up the mantle in reducing their carbon emissions. Often this is because many businesses just don't know...
Should SME’s care about their carbon footprint?
Global warming and resultant climate change is becoming more prominent in our daily lives. With record heat waves in Australia, floods across Western Europe and blizzards across North America simultaneously, it is clear that “the times they are a changing”. In...
Different approaches to measuring, managing and reporting carbon emissions
With more and more organisations looking to measure and report their carbon emissions, we often get questioned about how to go about doing this. As with any business requirement, the options are varied and the applications range from one end of the spectrum to the...
Outcomes of Cop 19
The 19th annual UN climate conference (COP19) concluded in Warsaw on Sunday November 24. Although delivering a set of relatively low decisions, Warsaw produced enough to keep countries on track to agreeing a new global climate deal at COP21 in Paris in 2015. This is...
What does the IPCC report mean for business and investors?
The IPCC report has stated a 95% certainty that human activity is responsible for climate change and predicts that temperatures will continue to rise. The publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's report, a rigorous scientific assessment of the...
Key steps to become carbon neutral
First reduce what you can, then offset the remainder For many organisations, particularly progressive ones that are embracing the low carbon economy, being carbon neutral or even carbon negative is the ultimate goal. This not only buys organisational credibility but...