Business Services
Audit & Advisory: Measure, Save, Manage
Understanding what and where emissions are within a company and how to take the right action to manage them is critical.
Carbon Planet's specialist audit and advisory team - led by PhD qualified engineers - uses the most up-to-date science to: Measure and build knowledge about an organisation's overall emissions; identify ways to reduce carbon liability and Save money, and; develop profitable strategies to Manage carbon exposure.
Carbon Planet's three step strategy to carbon management is tailored to suit the specific, individual needs of each business.
Step 1. Measure - a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Emissions Audit will identify the organisation's overall carbon footprint and assess the long-term financial impact. These findings will be presented back to the Board and/or Executive team to provide insights into the challenges facing the business pending the carbon compliance regulations.
Step 2. Save - a emissions reduction strategy in conjunction with an Energy Audit analyses exactly where in the business energy consumption and carbon emissions can be physically reduced. Recommendations will take into consideration the business practices and employee behavioural change required to negate future carbon liability and reduce energy expenditure.
Step 3: Manage - a Carbon Management is developed based on the research findings from Steps 1 and 2. Carbon Planet will also provide counsel and insights into how the business can turn this process into a financially-rewarding initiative. As part of this process, our team will conduct a 'Carbon Risk Analysis' on the business and develop a roadmap to turn any carbon liabilities into a commodities.
Carbon Planet's team offers customers ongoing support and monitoring to ensure benchmarks and targets are being met. We can also develop specific education solutions to encourage the engagement of employees at every level in the business - Board through to administrative and front-line (further outlined in the section 'Education for Change').
Carbon Credits
Carbon Credits are created by activities that either remove Greenhouse Gases from the atmosphere or prevent them from entering. The project or source from which a carbon credit originates is required to undergo independent review to ensure it meets strict compliance criteria.
One carbon credit is equivalent to one tonne of greenhouse gas emissions and its purchase will effectively 'offset' that quantity.
Carbon Credit Markets
There are two markets through which a business can purchase carbon credits: a 'Regulated Market' and a 'Voluntary Market'. Carbon Planet retails and wholesales a range of certified voluntary credits as well as Kyoto certified - and other suitably certified - compliance credits in both from across the globe.
'Regulated Market' - under the European Trading Scheme, and soon in Australia when the proposed national Emissions Trading Scheme commences in 2010, emissions caps are placed on various industries. Businesses that cannot reduce their emissions below these caps will be required to with pay a high penalty rate, or offset their emissions through the purchasing of carbon credits.
Credits in this market are regulated under the Kyoto Protocol - 'Gold Standard' credits are required to be originated from non-forestry, 'clean energy' development sources.
'Voluntary Market' - businesses that aren't yet required by law to reduce their emissions, but who want to reduce their future carbon liability, can also participate in offsetting their carbon emissions through certified carbon credits, either using the same credits as in the regulated market, or through a range of credits known as Voluntary Emissions Reductions (VERs), certified by the Voluntary Carbon Standard, as well as Australian Greenhouse Friendly(TM) credits certified by the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change.