COP26 in Glasgow has the potential to be one of the most significant moments in global climate history – and decarbonization is woven into its potential success. It is hoped that the meeting will act as a catalyst in the global fight against climate change.
The Conference will be critical in keeping the world on track with the Paris Agreement, where world leaders signed up to limit global warming to 1.5°C or well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2050.
We can expect some world leaders to make significant commitments that will make headlines across the globe. But it’s the days, weeks, months, and years after the conference that will ultimately define whether we can thwart runaway climate change.
Much of the hard work that will take place after COP26 will be delivered by businesses. In recent years the global business community has realized that it must play an active role. Many of the biggest names in business, and even some of those who are the biggest carbon emitters, have set ambitious carbon reduction targets.
For the average business over 90% of CO2 emissions lie in what is known as Scope 3. In turn, most of the Scope 3 emissions, 80%, are in the supply chain. This means that any business serious about meeting the carbon reduction commitments must figure out how to decarbonize its supply chain.
Enter Decarbonization-as-a-Service
Solving the puzzle of decarbonizing a supply chain is not easy. There will be companies in a stronger place than others to do this, but for the vast majority of organizations, it is unrealistic to expect that they will have the expertise in-house to do this effectively and efficiently across their entire supply chain.
This is where Decarbonization-as-a-Service comes in. This involves bringing in an external partner who can:
- Analyze your supply chain to determine where emissions are;
- Assess your overall commitment to carbon reduction against your suppliers’ own commitments, highlighting potential gaps; and
- Identify actions your business can take and then help put in place an operational plan for driving decarbonization in the short, medium and long term.
This approach can accelerate decarbonization plans by drawing on the expertise of those who have deep knowledge and understanding of specific areas, while also upskilling internal teams so that they can take long-term ownership of decarbonization strategies.
At Proxima, we blend our commercial and supply market expertise with science, technology, and some select specialist partners to give our clients the best “service partner” possible. We are able to flex our capacity, capability, or technology around what our clients already have in place. Decarbonization is not easy, but the pain of not starting is worse. D-a-a-S is designed to strike support the optimum balance between profit and purpose as you decarbonize your supply chain.
Related read: Understanding your Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions
Why COP is the moment for Decarbonization-as-a-Service
COP26 is an opportunity for the world to redouble its efforts on climate change. Many business leaders will be at the heart of the conversations but the actions must match the rhetoric that emerges from the conference. It is only by finding ways to decarbonize supply chains that this will be achieved.
COP26 will focus minds on the opportunities but also the challenges ahead. Decarbonizing supply chains is no easy task and it is only by starting the process now that we can hope to make meaningful progress towards fully zero-carbon supply chains by the 2040s or 2050s – as the leaders attending COP26 in Glasgow desire.
Like many across the world, our team at Proxima will be watching closely for what emerges from COP26. But we’re also excited about the opportunities that we’ll have to contribute to tackling climate change by helping businesses big and small decarbonize their supply chains – helping the world achieve its zero-carbon aims.
Are you trying to help your business reach net-zero? Get in touch to discuss how Decarbonization-as-a-Service can work for you.
To learn more about COP26, visit the official website.
