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Do companies need to allocate budget for carbon footprint early?

Updated: Oct 30

New Open | ESG ISO14064   

 
ESG,碳盤查,碳足跡,永續報告書,邊界設定,ISO14064,ISO14064-1,減碳
開張國際 X 明寰永續合辦 溫室氣體盤查主導員課程 - 孫瑞穗 講師 (照片/ 明寰永續科技)

Thanks to the emphasis on employee development at Open Reach International, we had the opportunity to participate in this professional training! Through this course, not only have we expanded our professional horizons, but we have also come to understand the urgency of global carbon reduction. For the current environmental situation, carbon reduction is no longer just a social responsibility, but a mission that each and every one of us must shoulder.


Is it necessary for small businesses like ours to allocate budget early for ESG initiatives?


During the opening ceremony of COP27, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a final ultimatum to government representatives: 'We are stepping on the gas pedal, heading straight towards climate disaster... Humanity has only one choice: to cooperate or perish.

The narrative framework concept depicts global leaders making a collective commitment at the COP conference to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, with the ultimate goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Taiwan, positioned relatively behind in global rankings, has significant room for improvement.


Carbon Neutrality:

Carbon neutrality refers to the balance between the amount of carbon dioxide emitted and the amount of carbon dioxide removed or offset from the atmosphere, resulting in a net zero carbon footprint.


Net Zero Emissions:

Net zero emissions occur when the greenhouse gas emissions produced are balanced by an equivalent amount of greenhouse gases removed from the atmosphere, effectively mitigating climate change.


Carbon Negative:

Carbon negative refers to a state where the overall amount of carbon dioxide emitted is less than the amount absorbed, effectively reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (Achieved by countries like Bhutan)


Over the years, the government and experts have formulated a series of carbon emission measures. The initial list of regulated industries includes power, steel, cement, semiconductor, thin-film transistor, and petroleum refining, among others, with annual carbon emissions exceeding 25,000 metric tons of CO2e in the fossil fuel industry. These industries are included in the regulatory scope of the first phase and are required to comply with corresponding emission reduction plans.


In addition to government-mandated regulation, many companies voluntarily participate in carbon footprint assessments. They track the carbon footprint of their products from upstream to downstream, from factories to logistics, and actively implement controls. Companies such as Wang Steak, FamilyMart, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Chung Hsing University are among those participating. Many quality enterprises publish annual sustainability reports to fulfill their social responsibility obligations and promote an overall atmosphere of environmental protection. After all, in the near future, this will be a requirement for all small and medium-sized enterprises.


What are the advantages of participating in voluntary carbon footprint assessments now? Is it necessary to do it first?


The government has been promoting energy-saving policies for many years, allocating budgets to help the public purchase energy-efficient appliances (refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.). The trend is that in the future, every enterprise will be required to submit a carbon reduction plan, and even the formulation of carbon taxes. Participating in these initiatives at the national level can facilitate a seamless transition and synchronize with the national development direction. It is a good choice! If a company's main customer base is predominantly overseas, such as organizations in Europe, organizational carbon footprint assessments and product carbon footprint planning are far more advanced than in Taiwan, becoming the basic threshold for international competitiveness.


政府不時推陳出新補助案,參與自願性碳排除了增加品牌聲望也能減輕成本負擔。 (圖 /經濟部產發署)

 

ISO14064-1  |  SO14064-2  | ESG

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