Carrying out a GHG assessment, an essential first step in a company's decarbonization process

🌿 Decarbonation and its objectives :

Decarbonization refers to the commitment to take action to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of a company, an industry or a country.

The main aim of this initiative is to reduce the consumption of primary energy sources such as oil, gas and coal, which are major emitters of greenhouse gases. It advocates their gradual replacement by renewable energies such as wind, hydro, biomass and solar, which are renowned for their considerably reduced carbon footprint. The use of non-carbon energies, such as nuclear power, is also a viable option for achieving carbon neutrality.

📃 France's National Low Carbon Strategy (SNBC)

The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies is proving to be an effective way of rapidly reducing CO2 emissions, thereby helping to combat global warming. However, it is crucial to note that simply replacing energy sources is not enough; a reduction in energy consumption remains just as essential.

In France, the National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC ), established since 2015, offers a roadmap to guide the transition to a low-carbon, circular and sustainable economy in all sectors of activity. It has two major ambitions: to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and to reduce the carbon footprint of French consumption.

To this end, four objectives have been defined:

• decarbonize electricity generation,
• halve energy consumption,
• reduce non-energy related emissions
• increase carbon sinks.

Decarbonization is therefore an imperative, enabling companies to meet environmental challenges while preserving their economic performance. This is particularly important forindustry, which is responsible for around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in France. Through these actions, organizations actively contribute to the reduction of climate change, thus playing an essential role in building a more sustainable future.

☁️ The stages of decarbonation and the role of the GHG Balance

Decarbonizing a business is a process that takes time and effective planning.

According to ADEME, four key stages are necessary for successful decarbonization:

1. Taking stock
2. Build your strategy
3. Taking action to decarbonize our industry
4. Evaluate and certify your approach

For a complete inventory of emissions, going beyond the energy audit, the full GHG Balance remains the most appropriate tool.

🚀 La plateforme Decarbo’Solution® accessible à toutes types d’organisations, facilite ce bilan GES en toute conformité avec les réglementations, normes et méthodologies reconnues (ISO I14064-1, GHG Protocol, Bilan Carbone, Loi Grenelle II).

Since the decree of July 1, 2022, a comprehensive corporate carbon footprint has been based on six emissions items, making it possible to analyze the impact of activity on the climate and prioritize reduction actions:

• Direct emissions (Scope 1 equivalent)
• Indirect emissions associated with energy (Scope 2 equivalent)
• Indirect emissions associated with transport (Scope 3 equivalent)
• Indirect emissions associated with purchased products (Scope 3 equivalent)
• Indirect emissions associated with products sold (Scope 3 equivalent)
• Other Indirect Emissions (Scope 3 Equivalent)

Once emissions have been identified and reduced, voluntary offsetting can be envisaged through participation in carbon offset or carbon contribution projects.

🌍 Raising awareness of emissions and reduction opportunities

To limit emissions and reduce its carbon footprint, a company needs to rethink and modernize its processes. Although the fight against climate change may seem complex, it remains essential to ensure the sustainability of today's businesses.

The first step is to improve the company's energy efficiency. This encompasses initiatives such as heat recovery, building renovation, the use of less energy-intensive equipment, or the installation of more efficient equipment.

An alternative lies in the substitution of energy sources. Replacing carbon-based primary energies with cleaner sources initiates the process of decarbonizing the company. It is imperative to reduce the use of fossil fuels as much as possible in favor of less carbon-intensive energies, such as renewable energies or nuclear power.

The electrification of processes plays an essential role, particularly in various industrial sectors, by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. It's worth pointing out that in France, 87% of the electricity generated in 2022 was decarbonized, according to RTE.

💬 Pierre Montagne, president of Terneo, an energy consultancy.

Pierre Montagne, President of Terneo, an energy consultancy for local authorities and businesses, shares his experience of using carbon footprints.

💬 Cécile Suquet, CSR Manager at LCL

Cécile Suquet, CSR Manager at LCL, highlights LCL's commitment to combating climate change.