Copyright 2022 KnowledgeBrief

Carbon Reduction Plan

Introduction

At KnowledgeBrief, we uphold our commitment to environmental responsibility. As an integral part of this commitment, we have developed a comprehensive carbon reduction plan with the ambitious objective of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2030. Our transition to a fully remote training organisation since 2020 has already yielded significant reductions in our carbon footprint. However, we recognise that more must be done, and thus, we have formulated this plan to outline our continued dedication to minimising our environmental impact. By actively participating in the decarbonisation efforts of the United Kingdom, we aspire to lead by example and inspire positive change within our industry and beyond. Our carbon reduction plan outlines specific actions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, while also acknowledging the remarkable benefits of remote work in terms of emissions reduction.

Baseline Assessment Total Energy Consumption ( FY 1st January 2023 – December 2023)

Scope 1

  • Train travel emissions - 2 company meeting per month in central London: 0.039 tonnes of CO2 per month

Scope 2

  • Electricity consumption emissions - 30 staff working from home / 40 hr week: 0.125 tonnes of CO2 per month

Scope 3

Cloud-Based Software Emissions:

  • Google Resource Market : 0.02 tCO2e per month.
  • Google Market-based : 0.15 t tCO2e per month.
  • Microsoft 365 : 0.094 tCO2e per month.

Total

0.428 tonnes of CO2e per month

Emissions Reduction Targets

  • Scope 1: Reduce business travel by a further 20% within 2 years / by the end of 2024 purchase 50 verified carbon credits
  • Scope 2: Target a target to transition 50% of electricity consumption to renewable sources by 2025
  • Scope 3: Reduce emissions associated with cloud-based software usage by 20% by 2025

Strategies and Actions

Scope 1
  • Virtual Meetings: Continue to limit in-person meetings to essential one. In-person meetings to be in a centralised location based on employees starting points to reduce distance travelled.
  • Train Travel Optimisation: For essential travel, optimise train routes and schedules to minimise emissions including using efficient train connections with fewer stops or direct routes, choose non-peak trains and encourage use of modern trains dependent on routes.
  • Carbon Offsetting: Invest in carbon credits to support initiatives such as reforestation helping to neutralise emissions and contribute to global sustainability goals. By the end of 2024, purchase 50 carbon credits to support reforestation.
Scope 2
  • Energy Efficiency Measures: Implement energy-saving practices for remote work including educating employees on optimising device energy setting for example turning off unused devices.
  • Home Office Energy Saving: Provide energy-saving tips for remote employees’ home offices including promoting energy-efficient appliances and smart thermostats.
  • Sustainable Work Practices: Encourage employees to practice eco-friendly practices like using natural light and continue to minimise paper use through the use of virtual notes and team boards.
  • Waste Minimisation: Encourage employees to reduce paper usage, avoid single-use plastics, and recycle materials and provide training on waste reduction and encourage active participation in sustainability efforts.
  • Electronic waste: Promote the reuse and recycling of electronic devices and components to extend their lifecycle and reduce environmental impact and source electronic equipment from suppliers committed to sustainable practices and take-back programs for end-of-life products.
  • Renewable Energy Procurement: Explore renewable energy options for powering cloud-based operations and purchase renewable energy credits or entering power purchase agreements (PPAs) with renewable energy providers.
  • Data Centre Optimisation: Work with cloud service providers to optimise data centre efficiency and conduct cost-benefit assessments for hardware upgrades and cooling system improvements.
  • Virtualisation and Consolidation: Consolidate servers and enhance virtualisation to reduce energy waste.
  • Training and Education: Provide educational resources and training sessions on climate change and sustainability to increase awareness and inspire action among employees. Celebrate achievements that result in carbon reduction efforts through team meetings.
Scope 3
  • Cloud-Based Software Optimisation: Collaborate with cloud service providers to optimise software usage and encourage efficient coding practices and periodic reviews to eliminate inefficiencies.
  • Renewable Energy Procurement: Advocate for providers to prioritise renewable energy for data centres and review partnerships to ensure we work with companies committed to transparent renewable energy sourcing.
  • Data Centre Efficiency Improvements: Work with providers to implement energy-efficient technologies including upgrade hardware, optimise cooling systems, and enhance power management.
  • Employee Training and Awareness: Educate employees on software’s environmental impact and deliver training to minimise carbon emissions through resource optimisation.

Monitoring and Reporting

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for 2024
  • Emissions Metrics: Track Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions regularly.
  • Energy Consumption: Monitor electricity and travel broken down by source (renewable vs. non-renewable).
  • Renewable Energy Usage: Measure the percentage of renewable energy used in operations.
  • Carbon Offset Activities: Record the amount and types of carbon offset projects undertaken.
  • Employee Engagement: Assess participation in sustainability initiatives and training programs.
Reporting / Continuous Improvement
  • Strategic Board will include 6 monthly report detailing progress towards net-zero goals, including emissions reductions, energy efficiency improvements, and renewable energy adoption. This will be delivered by the Operations Director.
  • The Board will be invited to discuss the success of strategies and adjust strategies based on the data reporting and ensure targets are ambitious yet achievable, considering technological advancements and industry standards.

Learner and Client Engagement

As an independent training provider, we understand our duty to promote carbon reduction practices to our learners and clients. We will

  • Engage with clients and learners to gather feedback on sustainability initiatives and reporting practices and share these as best practice
  • Provide training to our learners and clients climate change and sustainability through our guest speaker programme – Leaders in Action
  • Use success stories and case studies to inspire and motivate further action.

Carbon Reduction Plan, v1, 16.01.2024

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