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Rising energy demand is increasing greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation.
FREMONT, CA: Net zero emissions are essential for effective climate change mitigation. Despite the formidable challenges, this is the only viable path for addressing climate change and protecting the planet. As a result, organizations and businesses of all types must intensify their commitments toward decarbonization, net zero goals, and climate sustainability. Increasing global warming, causing climate change, poses complex challenges to governments, businesses, and communities worldwide as extreme weather events like prolonged droughts, heatwaves, heavy rain, tornadoes, tropical cyclones, and floods become more frequent and intense.
A corporate perspective must recognize that creating a GHG reduction strategy entails holistic approaches encompassing all organizational and operational dimensions to maximize impact. Besides contributing significantly to net zero aspirations, reducing greenhouse gases enhances air quality, public health, and investment opportunities in net zero economies. It reduces climate change risks and expenses at the same time. As a result, worldwide companies and organizations must develop comprehensive climate action strategies, implementing short-term and long-term measures to reduce emissions and invest in sustainable technologies. For long-term, target-driven implementation, it is crucial to integrate climate action into the corporate strategy. Efforts to mitigate risk must align with the company's overall strategy to achieve substantial change.
Global population growth contributes to increasing energy demands, increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with electricity generation. Hence, fossil-fuel-based electricity sources must be replaced with renewable energy sources as soon as possible. Consider switching to a green tariff for domestic energy supply as an effective strategy. Increasing energy efficiency can be achieved by optimizing building designs to reduce heating and cooling requirements and improving the operational efficiency of appliances, lighting, heating, and cooling systems.
A waste management plan can be implemented efficiently as another means of advancing sustainability. In addition to reducing waste, recycling, repurposing, and reusing, this approach also promotes energy conservation, cost savings, and the preservation of natural resources. Many easy yet effective steps can be taken within your organization to reduce waste, such as reducing paper use during periods of inactivity, enabling double-sided printing, purchasing recycled paper, and choosing sustainable office supplies.
As part of your organization's utilities and operations, it is beneficial to establish a well-defined recycling program that includes explicit instructions and sorting guidelines. In numerous industries, the cumulative emission levels over the entire supply chain exceed those from direct operations in many industries. Regular waste audits, conducted annually or biennially, can assist in setting clear waste management targets. Decarbonizing the supply chain is a major impactful measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ensure that your supply chain partners commit to carbon reduction and net-zero emissions to make significant progress. Promote adopting climate action principles that align with your own to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Regularly reviewing your suppliers' climate action procurement criteria ensures compliance and progress towards reducing emissions.
