Businesses calculate their carbon

At yesterday’s workshops, businesses and parishes calculated their operational greenhouse gas emissions. Those emissions include those that are generated in Jersey from burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas, petrol and diesel as well as emissions that come from electricity use.  

Jane Burns, Eco active programme manager said: “By calculating their emissions, organisations can begin to understand their role in tackling the climate emergency, and we are encouraged by the positive feedback we have had from businesses. 

“We hope to be rolling out more workshops and, in the meantime, we encourage anyone to download a copy of the spreadsheet we have devised so they can calculate their own emissions.  This is a practical way for businesses to see where they are now and to set goals of where they want to be in the future. Eco active can then help to identify how to reduce energy use which should see a financial saving as well as an emissions reduction.

“We must also remember that our direct emissions are measured and reported internationally, therefore we are able to see that our actions and policies can make a difference.”

Jersey Dairy was one of the businesses who participated in the workshops. Managing Director Eamon Fenlon said: “Jersey Dairy are working hard to lower the environmental impacts of processing the milk produced by Jersey cows in the Island. Understanding the emissions we are directly responsible for through our use of fossil fuels and electricity will help us better understand how we can reduce our emissions further.

“All dairy farms in Jersey are working towards the LEAF Marque standard which is a farm assurance system, showing that food has been grown sustainably with care for the environment. Part of the LEAF audit is an integrated farm management system which includes improvement on energy efficiencies. Working with eco active to calculate the emissions associated with our business operations will ultimately help us to be more energy efficient.”

This year, the States Assembly declared a climate emergency and a plan for how Jersey might become carbon neutral by 2030 is being prepared. The workshops were part of the work eco active is doing to help businesses, voluntary groups and parishes better understand their direct carbon emissions so that they can see where best to place their efforts in reducing them.

For more information about eco active and the campaigns they run please visit the website.