4. Offsetting out, net zero in
Impact rating: 8/10
Just in the time I was out of the industry (between April and July 2023), the narrative on sustainability switched fairly dramatically.
Achieving so-called ‘carbon neutrality’ through questionable offsets is out. Taking its place is a commitment to slashing absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, using a science-based framework.
This gear shift began with the largest IT distributors and resellers.
IT Channel Oxygen rounded up how eight of the world’s largest IT solutions providers (including the likes of Computacenter and Softcat) have committed to the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative here. Westcon-Comstor, meanwhile, appeared to be the first major global hardware distributor to have its SBTi targets approved in October.
But the truth is that businesses of all sizes face more legislation and increased public scrutiny over their environmental and ESG claims.
As we explored in this feature in August, firms in our sector who greenwash are increasingly coming under the microscope.
Although IT Channel Oxygen covered a great example of a ‘do-it-yourself’ rewilding project here, there is also now a greater scepticism over third-party offsetting schemes.
Taking action on direct or value chain emissions is now the order of the day.
“I shudder when I see companies claiming carbon neutrality based on the purchase of carbon credits without having in place programmes to cut their own direct or value chain emissions. It delays action on climate mitigation and that’s dangerous,” Susanne Baker, Chair of techUK’s Climate Council, told us.
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