Let’s make the environment our business.
Let’s make the environment our business.
Wouldn’t it be great if businesses could achieve their corporate responsibility goals while contributing towards the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Previous studies have shown that investing in carbon mitigation projects not only helps the environment, but also strongly impacts other SDGs such as poverty reduction, health improvement, and water sanitation.
The past two years have seen some remarkable breakthroughs in the international community including the agreement at COP 21 in Paris to keep temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius and the UN releasing the SDGs for 2030. These announcements will help shape the way our world develops and businesses play an important role in achieving these milestones.
Integration of SDGs into business practices
The 17 SDGs present many opportunities for corporates to make an impact on the ground, and each company must decide for themselves where to apply their efforts. Governments and the public have high expectations for corporates and private sector companies to make a significant contribution to the SDGs.
A 2015 study by Price Waterhouse Coopers, reported that SDG awareness amongst the business community is high (92%) with a majority of businesses (71%) already starting to take action. Despite this high consciousness, only 13% of businesses have actually identified the tools they need and only 29% are setting goals for measurement and management of objectives.
The same study asked businesses where they believed their organization has the greatest impact and where the most business opportunities lie. Climate Action was ranked second, behind Decent Work & Economic Growth. This aligns with the so-called Triple Bottom Line, the responsible environmental and societal strategies that lie at the heart of corporate sustainable business practices.
Reaching your SDGs through carbon offsetting
By effectively measuring, reducing and offsetting their carbon emissions, businesses can help to ensure their environmental impact is as low as possible. By contributing to climate action businesses experience other benefits as well: cost savings, assessment of exposure to climate risks and being a step ahead of regulatory requirements. Moreover, offsetting can create social value by also addressing poverty and health issues.
Nexus provides opportunities to voluntarily offset emissions, reducing negative impacts on the environment while benefiting local communities.
Nexus’ entire portfolio of CO2 saving projects is validated and verified to market-leading certification bodies. We supply Verified Emission Reductions (VERs), issued under The Gold Standard (GS). This type of carbon credit can be used to compensate for all types of greenhouse gas emissions. Our projects are regularly audited and meet quality requirements, ensuring that all carbon credits are real, measurable, additional, permanent, unique, and traceable.
Together with Imperial College in London, Nexus has developed a comprehensive tool for the calculation of project impacts, their monetary value and social return on investment. This information allows businesses to regularly report to their stakeholders on project impact and progress towards SDGs.
More information?
Would you like to know more about the SDGs and how your business can increase its impact? Are you interested in carbon compensation or neutrality? Send a free-of-obligation email to our Partnerships Manager Justin Bergendahl.
Nexus’ low-carbon projects
Nexus works with its members on clean water, cook stoves, and biogas projects in Asia and Africa. See here for an overview of our entire portfolio.