Businesses have a key role to play in decarbonizing France. But where do you start to reduce the carbon footprint of the service or industrial sectors? By defining a clear, precise, and ambitious carbon trajectory. Discover in this article what this entails and how to implement it in your organization.
What is the carbon trajectory applied to businesses?
A carbon trajectory, also called a low-carbon strategyor low-carbon orientation, is a set of techniques, processes, and solutions designed to decarbonize a company. In other words, to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all or part of its value chain, particularly throughenergy efficiency.
What is France's carbon trajectory?
France has its own carbon trajectory. This is formalized in the National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC), which was adopted in 2015 and reinforced in 2017 by the Climate Plan. The SNBC is therefore the roadmap for effectively implementing France's greenhouse gas reduction policy. It defines the decarbonization targets to be achieved and the means to achieve them. For example, France aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, "meaning a reduction of at least sixfold in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990."
By implementing a carbon trajectory in your company, you are helping France achieve its climate goals!
The carbon trajectory: for which companies?
All companies can implement a carbon trajectory to reduce their CO2 emissions. However, those that are subject to an obligation to carry out a carbon footprint assessment, or that are particularly energy-intensive such as industries, have an interest in embarking on industrial decarbonization.
Why implement a carbon trajectory?
The carbon trajectory addresses a regulatory, financial and reputational objective.
The obligation to carry out carbon footprint assessments
Due to France's ambitious decarbonization goals, regulations are becoming stricter in both the private and public sectors. Companies with more than 500 employees, local authorities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, and public institutions with more than 250 employees are legally required to conduct a carbon footprint assessment (scopes 1, 2, and 3). This assessment leads to a carbon trajectory that formalizes the targets to be achieved.
Meeting a financial objective with the carbon trajectory
Furthermore, the carbon trajectory allows us to estimate the savings generated by reducing carbon emissions. It also reduces the exposure of finances to risks and the gradual increase in energy and carbon prices, and allows us to anticipate the increase in the carbon tax (from €44.6 per tonne today to €100 in 2030).
Carbon trajectory and reputation
Finally, communicating about your carbon trajectory is an effective tool to mobilize your employees internally around a common and unifying project, but also to attract new targets concerned about the environment (prospects, investors) or to sustain projects with partners in line with your ecological transition objectives.
How to define your carbon trajectory?
It is advisable to consult an expert to implement a carbon trajectory. Although methodologies may differ, these key steps are often common: carbon footprint assessment, action plan, KPI monitoring, change management support, and communication.
The carbon footprint: the first step before the carbon trajectory
A carbon footprint assessment is a method for calculating a company's carbon emissions, developed by the Bilan Carbone association in partnership with Ademe. It entitles the company to a certification , which attests to the quality of the audit.
Here's what to expect from a carbon footprint assessment:
- identification of relevant activity data ;
- support for automatic data collection via Operat;
- calculation of CO2 emissions;
- analysis of the main emission points;
- mapping of flows (waste, transport, purchases, energy, equipment etc).
Build an action plan to develop your carbon trajectory
Following the carbon footprint assessment, which serves as a baseline of greenhouse gas emissions, a strategy can be implemented to correct carbon losses.
The action plan can take the form of:
- of a reduction trajectory broken down by time (2030? 2050) or by source of emission (travel, energy, purchase etc);
- a carbon and financial assessment of the actions;
- validation of objectives ;
- of a proposal for tailor-made solutions ;
Among these solutions, we can find energy efficiency work such as relamping, the installation of a BMS or the replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).
For a simpler solution, there's also energy brokerage. Powesco provides you with an expert to optimize your energy purchases and consumemore renewable and lower-carbon energy.
Support for the change needed for the carbon trajectory
The new carbon trajectory implies changes within the company. It is therefore essential to support employees throughout this process, training them to adopt best practices to ensure the achievement of objectives and the success of the project.
Change management support can, for example, be characterized by:
- workshop for co-creating an action plan with stakeholders;
- communication kits ;
- creation of action sheets.
Monitoring performance indicators to achieve a successful carbon trajectory
Monitoring KPIs is essential for carbon trajectory planning. This energy management approach allows us to verify whether objectives are being met or if adjustments are needed.
It most often takes the form of a customized dashboard that provides key information on:
- the quantification of results;
- support in setting up reporting systems ;
- the energy consumption of the equipment and the equivalent in CO2 emissions;
- the volume or rate of emission reduction;
- the cost per tonne of carbon etc.
Communication on the carbon trajectory
Don't forget to communicate internally and externally about the success of your carbon trajectory! To do this, you can:
- publish your Carbon Footprint report to ADEME;
- publish the results of the Carbon Footprint in a CSR or Sustainable Development report;
- publish your emissions reduction trajectory.
Need support in developing your carbon trajectory? Contact Powesco! Our subsidiary Act4Transition has already carried out carbon footprint assessments for major companies such as the Red Cross, Total Energies, and Air France.
