Penguin Perspectives Blog

To help inspire change in your organisation, and stay ahead of the competition, we’ve helpfully rounded-up some of 2020’s leading climate pledges from across the UK, Ireland and further afield.

Despite the impacts of COVID-19, climate action in Asia is accelerating rapidly. Some of the largest emitters in the region have set Net Zero targets and businesses are following suit. This is a welcome trend given Asia’s growing number of big multinationals – and the fact that it is home to the supply chains of various global brands. How is the region responding to the climate challenge and what can we expect from 2021?

Farming – it accounts for 10% of our annual GHG emissions and can have severe long-term implications for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and food security. Regenerative agriculture can turn over a new leaf by redesigning the farming system to work together with nature. By purchasing carbon credits from certified regenerative agriculture projects, organisations can address their carbon footprint and provide alternative income streams to farmers implementing soil-enhancing agricultural techniques.

Despite COVID-19, corporate climate action in Australia and globally continues apace and, in some cases, is even accelerating. We've rounded up 2020's key commitments to inspire your business to take the next step on your climate journey in 2021.

New survey finds many companies have set net zero climate targets, but few have milestones to reach them, explains South Pole CEO Renat Heuberger.

Step 4 of the South Pole Climate Journey guides you through the large variety of carbon offset options and explores a range of growing investment opportunities. Following our how-to guide will ensure your capital maximises the direct benefits to your business and the planet.

Flash forward: it is 2075 and we’ve set sail for the RCP 8.5 trajectory for 2100, the worst case climate scenario according to the IPCC. Imagine this: Pacific islands such as Tuvalu have long sunk into a rising ocean, heat and pollution take a toll on the global population, hurricanes and fires devastate poor communities on a regular basis, and huge swaths of Asia and Africa have become uninhabitable due to heat and drought. Quick shift back to the present: luckily we are not there. However, we are still far away from the emissions trajectory necessary for a 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming.

Many businesses are responding to growing stakeholder pressure by making commitments to reduce their impact on the environment and boost company sustainability. This includes committing to a net zero ambition. Meeting such targets depends on a combination of variables: consistent senior management ownership, internal buy-in, sufficient resources, and effective technologies. This article - exploring Step 3 of the South Pole Climate Journey – guides you through the essentials to ensure you are well prepared for a net zero target, maintaining your climate actions through successful completion.

When politicians gathered in December 2015 to negotiate the Paris Climate Agreement, countries were asked to set national emissions reduction targets to limit global warming and slow climate change. Five years on during a global pandemic and amidst cries to 'build back better', it's clear that the need for ambitious private sector action is more important than ever.

By working with nature, we can avoid unleashing ‘irrecoverable carbon’ and conserve biodiversity – a cornerstone of our economic and social fabric that affects the industries we have and the food we eat. This is something that REDD+ projects (‘reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation’) are working to do.