Today is January 8th, 2023, the first day back to work for Carbonstop. First of all, I wish everyone a great start to the year, a happy New Year, and may you make rapid progress like a rabbit!
According to tradition, here I am again. This time, during the Spring Festival, I managed to squeeze out about 16 hours (amidst self-driving trips with family, mahjong games, and other activities) to write this article, hoping to continue discussing some observations and thoughts in the field of carbon neutrality with everyone.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the beginning of the pandemic that the pandemic would eventually pass, but climate change would accompany us for life. During the pandemic era, we realized how vulnerable humans can be, yet how resilient we are. In the post-pandemic era, carbon neutrality will be a long-term endeavor, a challenging but right cause worth dedicating our lives to.
This year is different in that, besides this opening-of-the-year article, I will also write one article each month focusing on the latest developments and analyses in the field of carbon neutrality/carbon management. Additionally, the Carbonstop consulting team will ensure that there is an original output every week, providing in-depth and timely analysis and sharing on hot topics and issues worthy of deeper exploration. In 2023, I hope to strengthen communication and interaction with everyone, ensuring that every piece of content is genuinely insightful and practical.
Today's article primarily aims to share with you the changes and progress observed in the carbon circle over the past year, focusing on the following questions:
1. Changes and cognitive evolution in the industry over the two years since the proposal of carbon neutrality
2. The latest practices and iterative upgrades of the carbon neutrality methodology CREOS
3. Some trial-and-error experiences and discoveries of Carbonstop in 2022
4. What changes might occur in the field of carbon neutrality in 2023
5. Answers to key questions
["Changes and Cognitive Evolution in the Industry Over Two Years Since the Proposal of Carbon Neutrality"]
In 2006, "carbon neutrality" became the Word of the Year in the Oxford Dictionary. In August 2022, "carbon neutrality" was officially included in the fourth edition of the Modern Chinese Standard Dictionary. The speed at which carbon neutrality has gained popularity far exceeds our expectations.
Before the Spring Festival, I was invited to participate in a Sequoia Talk, where the first question asked was what the most notable changes in the carbon neutrality industry have been over the two years since its proposal? At that time, I shared two core insights:
1. Currently, the total assets of enterprises worldwide that have committed to achieving carbon neutrality/net-zero emissions exceed $130 trillion.What does this mean? Almost all influential domestic and international enterprises have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality (leading enterprises generally aim to achieve carbon neutrality before 2030). So, if your competitors have committed to carbon neutrality or your customers have made such commitments, failing to take proactive actions could result in losing significant market opportunities. Carbon neutrality has formed a comprehensive consensus within the business community.
2. Another notable change is that enterprises are transitioning from being passive to proactive in pursuing carbon neutrality and encouraging their upstream and downstream value chains, including suppliers and consumers, to participate together.For example, companies like Apple and L'Oréal require their suppliers to disclose carbon emission data, while Starbucks and KFC introduce plant-based burgers and food banks to encourage more consumers to participate in emission reduction efforts. The demand for carbon management among enterprises has clearly shifted from being passive to proactive, becoming a core consideration in corporate development strategies.
["The Latest Practices and Iterative Upgrades of the Carbon Neutrality Methodology CREOS"]
During the Spring Festival of 2021, we published an original article about "China's Carbon Neutrality", introducing for the first time the carbon neutrality methodology based on the experience accumulated by the Carbonstop team in numerous benchmark enterprise carbon neutrality projects. This includes the CFOS rule for setting carbon neutrality goals and the CREO methodology for achieving carbon neutrality paths. Later, in the original article "The Final Battle of Carbon Neutrality" published during the National Day holiday in 2021, we upgraded CREO to CREOS, formally incorporating communication into the key path of corporate carbon neutrality.
In 2022, we saw more and more enterprises implement carbon neutrality, making solid and innovative efforts in calculating carbon emissions (C), reducing emissions (R), engaging stakeholders (E), offsetting emissions (O), and spreading awareness (S).
We are delighted to see that some enterprises in key industries have taken proactive actions to advance innovative practices in carbon neutrality. For example, ShareIt Technology announced that through rigorous calculations, its global user base (2 billion) using the SHAREit near-field transmission technology can reduce daily carbon emissions by 19,224.63 tons compared to 3G transmission.
We also witnessed Hualong Aviation not only achieving China's first carbon-neutral business flight in 2022 but also releasing detailed carbon emission data and carbon neutrality path planning.
We also saw investment institutions like CDH Investments publish detailed and solid carbon neutrality goals and paths, with a highlight being the promotion of carbon neutrality within their investment portfolios, setting an example in stakeholder engagement.
C: Calculating
Calculating carbon emissions remains the most important task for enterprises conducting carbon management over the past two years and for the foreseeable future, period. "No quantification, no management" continues to be the starting point for advancing carbon neutrality. Whether at the organizational, product, event, or scenario level, we have seen many innovative practices in carbon calculation in 2022.
For enterprises voluntarily disclosing carbon emissions, the focus is still on Scopes 1, 2, and 3. A significant change is the increasing requirement for Scope 3 disclosures. Large brand enterprises, in order to disclose their upstream Scope 3 carbon emissions, are now requiring suppliers to provide carbon emission data, which has become a crucial driver for promoting carbon management across society. Indeed, in 2022, the majority of clients our team interacted with were required to conduct product carbon footprinting or organizational carbon emission disclosure by domestic or international clients.
Take a simple example: when a large enterprise commits to achieving carbon neutrality, much of the pressure is passed down to its suppliers. Choosing suppliers who disclose (preferably achieve) carbon neutrality is becoming a trend.
Carbonstop emits less than 100 tons annually. As a small micro-enterprise, while advancing our own carbon neutrality, we also strive to choose low-carbon suppliers, such as carbon-neutral office furniture and stationery. Of course, if there were carbon-neutral office buildings, Carbonstop would prioritize them.
In 2022, it was evident that more and more enterprises wanted to disclose the lifecycle carbon reduction of their products and achieve carbon neutrality, such as the ubiquitous Morning Glory ballpoint pens, which now use Meituan Waimai food containers as pen barrel materials, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of raw materials and ultimately achieving product carbon neutrality.
In the process of carbon emission calculation, the biggest challenge remains data collection. How to quickly, efficiently, and intelligently gather basic carbon emission data from within the organization or up and down the supply chain of a product is the most headache-inducing and challenging task for most enterprises. The Carbonstop team is heavily investing in solving this difficult but correct problem in carbon calculation, using AI and generic data interfaces to reduce human intervention and input in data collection.
R: Reducing
We have always emphasized that in the path to achieving carbon neutrality, reducing one's own emissions must take precedence over offsetting (or removing) emissions. Only after an enterprise has done everything possible to reduce its own emissions should it consider using offset mechanisms to neutralize the unavoidable emissions.
However, my view is that emission reduction must be within the current capacity of the enterprise. We oppose "greenwashing" behaviors where enterprises overly rely on offsets without reducing their own emissions, and we also do not agree with irrational or campaign-style emission reductions that ignore technological maturity and economic rationality. It's important not to overcorrect!
The global effort to reduce carbon emissions is unprecedented. I noticed that more and more enterprises are committing to science-based targets (SBTs). An email received during the holiday showed that currently, over 4,500 enterprises/institutions worldwide have proposed SBTs, of which 2,218 have had their targets accepted by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
For most enterprises, Scope 2 purchased electricity emissions account for a significant portion of total emissions, and buying green electricity remains the most direct means of emission reduction. How to purchase green electricity is a challenge faced by many enterprises. Next month, we will have a special feature dedicated to this topic, so stay tuned to the Carbonstop subscription account and service account for recent updates.
E: Engaging
In the CREOS carbon neutrality methodology, for many industries (such as technology, consumer goods, and finance), the impact of engagement far outweighs the contribution of their own emission reductions. A carbon neutrality path that lacks the engagement of ecosystem partners is incomplete.
Engagement in carbon reduction within enterprises mainly manifests in three areas: supply chain carbon management, employee carbon accounts, and individual user carbon accounts.
I've already discussed supply chain carbon management quite a bit, so I won't repeat it here.
In 2022, what struck me deeply was the increasing number of innovative practices by companies that promote carbon reduction among employees through carbon accounts. I am delighted to see that companies like China Telecom, Singapore Port, and BAIC Group have successfully engaged tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of employees in feasible carbon reduction activities through employee carbon accounts, achieving very good results. For enterprises to implement carbon neutrality, there are two things that are easiest to do well: one is their own carbon inventory and setting carbon neutrality goals and paths, and the other is promoting carbon reduction actions among employees. Cleaning up one's own doorstep, with fewer external constraints and higher controllability.
Regarding personal carbon accounts for users, it was heartening to see many local governments launch regional carbon incentives in 2022, implementing the application of carbon accounts on the user side, as well as seeing numerous innovations in scenarios and incentives. For enterprises to advance personal carbon accounts for users, a large user base is first required, so such carbon account products are more suitable for tech internet companies (with hundreds of millions of users), financial institutions (such as banks, insurance companies), consumer goods companies (national brands). Moreover, they need a lot of carbon reduction scenarios suitable for their business. It still holds true that all corporate carbon neutrality actions not aimed at advancing core business objectives are considered "nonsense."
In the field of personal carbon accounts, Ant Forest has achieved success. I have also been thinking, besides Alibaba, other tech giants are making efforts in carbon neutrality, and these tech giants are also customers of Carbonstop, but why it has been difficult to see another "Ant Forest" emerge over the years. Recently, after communicating with ESG/carbon neutrality-related executives from several tech giants, the main feedback received can be summarized into two points:
1. Why should we do something others have already done? Although copying each other is commonplace in the internet sector, a complete copy without micro-innovation is still easily despised in today's era and hard to get internal approval.
2. The return on investment (ROI) for personal carbon account projects cannot be clearly calculated, thus failing to gain support from the highest levels. The uniqueness of Ant Forest lies in its strategic positioning as a traffic entry point for Ant Group and an important lever for the company’s sustainability strategy.
Therefore, a lower investment, leveraging mature carbon account platforms, coupled with some tailor-made features for the enterprise, to launch personal carbon accounts for both employees and users is a solution most companies find easier to accept. Carbon account SaaS targeting enterprises thus finds its place.
O: Offsetting
Finally, we come to the offsetting stage, which was previously seen as a step everyone found distasteful, a necessary evil in corporate carbon neutrality processes. However, recent studies increasingly suggest that carbon offsetting, particularly carbon removal, needs to receive global attention. Because relying solely on corporate carbon reduction cannot achieve the global 1.5°C temperature control target, innovation in carbon removal technologies remains something we must invest massive time, effort, and funds into over the next few decades and beyond.
For the latest research, refer to Oxford University’s recently published study on CDR carbon removal research findings, the key point being that we should not focus solely on traditional forestry carbon sink projects; more innovative carbon removal technologies and projects deserve deeper investment. We need to care about the longevity of carbon removal projects, rather than unstable carbon removal, so truly recognized carbon removal projects (supported by relevant certificates) can reasonably apply to corporate carbon compensation.
There is disagreement within the industry about whether Offsetting should be translated as "offsetting" or "compensation." After careful consideration, I believe "compensation" is more appropriate. Compared to "offsetting," "compensation" sounds more positive and proactive, conveying a sense of making up for past mistakes and taking active measures to address unavoidable carbon emissions, as well as compensating for historical carbon emissions (original sins), which fits the meaning better.
Previously, international NGOs criticized many companies' greenwashing behavior regarding carbon neutrality, arguing that the emission reduction projects used for their carbon compensation actually did not contribute to reducing or removing carbon emissions for the planet. This requires serious attention from companies, and choosing high-quality carbon reduction/carbon removal projects recognized by domestic and international authorities is the only way for companies to achieve carbon compensation.
S: Spreading
The final step in Carbonstop's CREOS carbon neutrality methodology is to disclose the company's carbon emission data, carbon management measures, and carbon neutrality achievements to various stakeholders. Starting in 2022, my biggest impression was how significant the value of disclosure and communication is for carbon neutrality. Since companies have taken so many actions in carbon calculation, carbon reduction, and carbon neutrality, they should amplify their voice.
In terms of carbon disclosure through CDP, many companies have improved their disclosure ratings through their own efforts, gaining recognition from investors. A highlight achievement for Carbonstop in 2022 was helping a leading internet company leap from a D rating to a B rating in the CDP, and receiving the CDP Leap Forward Award.
Many companies have started disclosing the carbon footprint of their products, and the use of carbon labels is becoming more widespread.
In terms of disclosure, companies are encouraged to provide detailed and logical disclosures; vague carbon neutrality commitments are not worthy of praise.
Despite the increasing encouragement for carbon disclosure standards and platforms internationally, including CDP, SBTi, and even ESG reports, which either mandate or encourage companies to disclose detailed carbon emission data and progress on carbon neutrality, overall, carbon disclosure is still in its early stages. For example, it is still mostly self-reported by companies, raising questions about authenticity. However, this is understandable during the early phase, and encouraging companies to start with disclosure and then improve the quality and reliability of their disclosures is the right path forward.
In terms of carbon neutrality communication, an interesting successful case was the carbon-neutral wedding of Xiaoxin and Huwa in September 2022. The carbon-neutral wedding of Xiaoxin and Huwa. Usually, the reading volume of the Carbonstop subscription account is less than 500, but this article went viral spontaneously, with the reading volume breaking 5,000, ten times the usual attention. Good carbon neutrality topics and content are very valuable for spreading carbon neutrality, and the Carbonstop team has already officially started taking orders for carbon-neutral wedding services:)
[Some Trials and Discoveries of Carbonstop in 2022]
2022 was a very challenging year for most companies, with the impact of the pandemic and energy crises caused by geopolitical conflicts bringing much negativity to the economic environment, including carbon neutrality. Despite this backdrop, Carbonstop made many attempts in 2022. This section mainly shares the gains and losses of these innovative attempts, hoping to inspire others, but at least help companies avoid some pitfalls.
1. Launching a Personal Carbon Account Product for External Users.
In October 2022, the Carbonstop team launched a personal carbon account product for end-users, setting an internal goal of attracting 200,000 users to participate in carbon reduction actions within one month. The final performance was quite good (within 10 days, the product attracted 250,000 users starting from zero, with total reward investments under RMB 150,000, presenting a relatively optimistic ROI). However, the carbon account product still needs improvement in terms of scene applicability and user stickiness. For example, many scenes still rely on user-uploaded photos to obtain basic carbon emission data, which poses significant challenges in user experience and data authenticity (though this method is also adopted by many similar applications, whose primary aim is to enhance users' awareness of carbon reduction, thus placing a lower priority on data accuracy and effectiveness), weakening the product's competitiveness. At the same time, there is a lack of effective means to continuously activate users, requiring ongoing operational efforts to maintain high user stickiness and daily activity. Therefore, it is suggested that companies planning to develop carbon account applications should give more thought and innovation to scene applicability and user activation methods.
2. Launching an Internal Employee Carbon Account Application Walk&Win.
Walk&Win is an internal employee carbon account application configured based on the Carbonstop carbon account SaaS. Compared to the aforementioned external user carbon account, I believe that Carbonstop's employee carbon account has been more successful in certain aspects.
I believe there are several innovative highlights worth referencing by other companies:
1) First, the name Walk&Win is sophisticated enough, and it sparked enthusiastic reactions within the Carbonstop team right from the start;
2) The carbon reduction scenario is only walking, which everyone finds simple and easy to do. The product design team put a lot of thought into the logic rules to increase user stickiness and daily activity. For example, six influential captains were selected within the company, and members were randomly assigned to teams. Driven by responsibility, leadership, and the desire for prizes, the captains would remind team members to upload their steps every night, otherwise, their efforts would be wasted. With rewards ahead and captains urging behind, everyone's enthusiasm soared.
3) Rewards are creative and bound to make you excited. By the end of November, the average number of steps (carbon reduction) of the winning team will earn everyone a grand prize (World Cup gift package, sunroof tent, etc.), and the top three walkers across the company will receive a day off as a reward.
4) There is also a noticeable effect on motivating those lagging behind. One rule is that if the champion team includes the bottom three individuals in the entire company, the team will lose its champion status. No one can just sit back and relax; the whole company gets motivated.
5) The rankings of top and bottom performers are announced weekly at the company meeting to encourage everyone to actively participate.
The significance of this activity lies in making people realize that carbon reduction is positively correlated with health and exercise, and that exercising is not so difficult. In the end, the colleague who won the grand prize usually had few opportunities for exercise, but in November, for the sake of team honor and the grand prize, he averaged over 26,000 steps per day, and after the event, his physique became more fit and toned.
Despite having only one carbon reduction scenario, Walk&Win managed to succeed through meticulous product and rule design. Overall, Walk&Win achieved the expected goal of getting everyone involved in sports and carbon reduction.
3. Building and Enhancing the Usability of the Carbon Emission Factor Database.
The Carbonstop team has been building a carbon emission factor database since 2012 and applying it to the practice of corporate carbon emission calculations. However, in the past, there was indeed a focus on showcasing capabilities (for every keyword searched by users, the database could display dozens or even hundreds of data points from around the world, looking impressive), while neglecting user experience (although users felt satisfied seeing so much data, it was difficult for them to obtain the most relevant and high-quality data). Therefore, starting from Q4 of 2022, the Carbonstop team focused on improving the usability and product iteration of the carbon database, and plans to bring a better product to users at the right time.
4. Hosting of the Global Carbon Management Conference (GCMC)
On September 23, 2022, Carbonstop organized a Global Carbon Management Conference (GCMC). It was quite challenging to host an offline conference with 500 participants during a period when the pandemic was severe and recurring. Fortunately, everything proceeded relatively smoothly. The highlights of the conference included the overall design of the content, the insightful sharing by guests, the green meeting concept, and the innovative creation of personal carbon trading, which were all refreshing to the attendees, thus achieving the purpose of this attempt. Areas for improvement include reducing the heavy imprint of Carbonstop, and in 2023, we will continue with the second GCMC, where Carbonstop will play the role of a platform provider, inviting various partners to take the stage. Due to time constraints, the depth of sharing on the Top Ten Insights in Carbon Management was insufficient, and this needs to be strengthened this year.
5. Building of the Carbon Information Platform
The entire carbon circle faces a rather challenging issue: whether it's products or services, the usage frequency by customers/users is not high. How to increase the usage frequency of products, building an information platform is naturally a good choice. Therefore, in October, Carbonstop Cloud launched the Carbon Information module, continuously creating original content through the Carbonstop Consulting team and experts from the Carbonstop Research Institute, injecting this into the Carbon Information module of Carbonstop Cloud. This idea is also based on real enterprise needs, including the fact that since 2022, Carbonstop has started providing continuous carbon industry information services to companies like Baidu and SF Express. Most enterprises are still at the elementary level in the field of carbon neutrality, and ongoing, high-quality information is very beneficial for enterprises to gain a comprehensive and deep understanding of the carbon industry.
【What Changes Will Carbon Neutrality Bring in 2023】
The biggest change in 2023 will undoubtedly be the renewal after the post-pandemic era. The heat around carbon neutrality over the past two years may have exceeded most people's expectations. The author previously proposed that the heat is detrimental to the development of the industry. From September 2022 to now, tens of thousands of enterprises related to carbon neutrality have been established, and significant changes are expected in 2023 as everyone seeks to build a closed loop for their core business.
The "20th National Congress" has set the tone for carbon neutrality: to actively and steadily promote carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Based on China's energy and resource endowments, adhering to the principle of establishing before breaking, and implementing the carbon peak action plan in a planned and phased manner. The "campaign-style" carbon reduction phenomenon that emerged over the past two years will be greatly curbed.
In 2023, with economic recovery, there will be more space for enterprises to take actions towards carbon neutrality, and carbon management by enterprises will extend deeper. If one important signal in 2022 was brand enterprises expanding into their supply chains, a possible signal in 2023 is that enterprises will start to make more efforts in specific directions of carbon reduction. After all, the concept of carbon neutrality has been around for more than two years, and deep decarbonization will be the focus going forward.
Another trend is that with more and more enterprises voluntarily disclosing their carbon emission data and carbon neutrality targets over the past two years, industry benchmarking has become feasible. Previously, when making plans, industry benchmarks were always foreign leading enterprises. Now, most industries have seen the emergence of domestic benchmark enterprises, which can serve as models for others to emulate, learn from, and strive to surpass.
The two most achievable things in carbon management: corporate carbon inventory and employee carbon accounts, will remain basic actions for many enterprises to fulfill their carbon neutrality commitments in 2023.
In 2023, more and more products will disclose their carbon footprint, carbon reduction, or carbon neutrality labels. This is work that the Carbonstop team has been strongly promoting, identifying leading consumer goods enterprises in each niche market, creating carbon-neutral brands, and leading industry trends.
【Key Issues and Answers】
1. Regarding Media Reports on Some EU Countries Planning to Withdraw from Carbon Neutrality Commitments
For a while last year, the European energy crisis caused by geopolitical conflicts cast a large shadow over carbon neutrality efforts in the EU region. Some countries restarting fossil fuel schemes made many insiders and outsiders worried about the EU reversing course on carbon neutrality, which could also affect China's next steps in advancing carbon neutrality.
The author's previous response mainly included three points:
1) To date, no country has explicitly stated its intention to withdraw from its carbon neutrality commitment, facts speak louder than words.
2) Some European countries' use of fossil fuels is a temporary measure, as the immediate pressure of survival is greater and more urgent. However, the author believes this unsustainable 'backslide' will quickly return to normal.
3) China's pursuit of carbon neutrality is not only due to international pressure; China's own demand for new energy and carbon neutrality is the core driving force. Globally, China leads in new energy technology, and global carbon neutrality aligns with China's fundamental interests economically. Economic benefits are the starting point for the smooth implementation of policies.
2. About CBAM
CBAM was perhaps the hottest carbon topic of 2022. The author will be straightforward: CBAM is something that enterprises need to pay attention to, but they don't need to panic, nor is it necessary to create anxiety for enterprises. Firstly, the effective time is still long, with many uncertainties in between, and the EU is still forming a final unified stance internally; secondly, the Chinese government will not stand idly by, reasonable trade protection can be expected, and during COP27, emerging countries such as China, India, South Africa, and Brazil clearly opposed the EU's unilaterally proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism.
However, for Chinese enterprises, it is essential to prepare in advance, and here are some viewpoints to share for your reference.
- We should not only pay attention to enterprises within the scope of the CBAM-covered industries, but also the upstream and downstream enterprises related to these industries will be affected, and value and price transmission will be very rapid.
- CBAM will also indirectly impact China's carbon prices. An increase in carbon prices will have a direct impact on all carbon trading enterprises and those that have set carbon neutrality goals.
- Establishing mutual recognition mechanisms for carbon accounting and carbon pricing between China and Europe will be a top priority in the coming years!
- If there are any suggestions for Chinese enterprises, the author recommends:
For domestic export enterprises in industries covered by the EU CBAM, it is necessary to assess the proportion of EU business and formulate enterprise strategies considering the impact of CBAM; monitor, quantify, and analyze emissions from fuel combustion and purchased electricity in the production process of their own products, develop low-carbon energy and green power, and plan emission reduction paths to positively respond to tightening domestic and international policies.
For other domestic industry enterprises, they need to closely follow policy dynamics, conduct quantitative analysis of their own carbon emissions in advance, understand their carbon inventory; conduct stakeholder analysis at home and abroad, formulate corresponding enterprise carbon reduction strategies, engage in low-carbon product research, and establish a low-carbon advantage barrier. Actively predict future carbon risks of the enterprise, prepare for the potential expansion of the scope of the EU CBAM and the domestic carbon market, observe the development trend of domestic and international green power, and engage in green power transactions; formulate a green strategy for the enterprise in light of the impact of the EU CBAM.
3. How to View Campaign-Style Carbon Reduction
Regarding campaign-style carbon reduction, it has already been mentioned that most people basically agree on opposing it. However, at a sharing event organized by Entrepreneur邦 (ChuangyeBang) earlier in the year, several guests had a relatively consistent view on campaign-style carbon reduction: although it is undesirable, it does help raise awareness about carbon neutrality in the short term, making it more widely known and quickly expanding beyond its niche. This is beneficial for the country's overall progress in advancing carbon neutrality.
4. How Can Enterprises Avoid Greenwashing?
Internationally, there is almost zero tolerance for "greenwashing." When enterprises make carbon neutrality commitments, there are several principles to keep in mind:
1) Disclose carbon emission data as transparently and clearly as possible. A carbon neutrality commitment without data is baseless. By calculating carbon emissions, identify the main areas of emissions (the primary contradiction), address the main contradiction first, and avoid carbon reduction actions and exaggerated promotions that are practically insignificant.
2) Before taking offset measures, ensure that all efforts have been made to reduce emissions.
3) Influential enterprises should not only consider their own operational carbon neutrality but must also take into account the mobilization of their upstream and downstream ecosystems.
4) Carbon offset projects should consider their human-induced additional nature, long-term stability (such as carbon sink effects lasting for decades or even longer), and avoid projects that do not bring actual carbon reduction value to society in the long run, which could harm the company's reputation. According to the latest CDR report released by Oxford University, the main principles for carbon removal projects are:
Principle 1: The CO2 captured must come from the atmosphere, not from fossil sources. The removal activity may capture atmospheric CO2 directly or indirectly, for instance via biomass or seawater.
Principle 2: The subsequent storage must be durable, such that CO2 is not soon reintroduced to the atmosphere.
Principle 3: The removal must be a result of human intervention, additional to Earth’s natural processes.
Additionally, the author believes that the most important thing is to strengthen communication with regulatory bodies and NGOs to stop "greenwashing" at its source.
5. The Endgame of Carbon Neutrality
The article published during the National Day holiday in 2021, "The Final Battle of Carbon Neutrality", discussed the endgame scenarios for carbon neutrality in key sectors (technology, consumer, finance, and energy). If we broaden our perspective, the viewpoint shared by the author at Sequoia Talk might be worth considering:
The endgame of carbon neutrality, in simple terms, will be when carbon neutrality is no longer a topic of discussion, marking the end of the carbon neutrality era. At that time, carbon neutrality will have truly integrated into our lives, production, and work, becoming a natural consideration in our daily decision-making processes.
6. About COP28 Dubai Climate Conference
The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) will be held in Dubai, which is a lucky place for Carbonstop. During the last Expo Dubai Social Innovation Competition, due to the outbreak of the pandemic, we missed the opportunity to showcase Carbonstop's innovative products in carbon neutrality and carbon management on-site. This time, we cannot miss the opportunity. We will actively organize events and lead more outstanding Chinese enterprises to the international stage to showcase China's innovation and charm in carbon neutrality!
7. What New Actions Will Carbonstop Take in 2023?
"High-Quality Business Growth, Significant Enhancement of Core Competence, and Closure of Innovative Models" are the main keys for Carbonstop in 2023. Carbonstop will continue to adhere to the principle of data, product, and technology-driven development, promoting the healthy and sustainable growth of the company's business. At the same time, Carbonstop will be more open, currently building a publicly accessible Carbonstop Carbon Emission Factor Database (CCDB) that will gradually be opened up for use by enterprises and the public.
We are eagerly seeking excellent carbon consultants, product managers, and business and marketing professionals. Those interested are welcome to contact hr@carbonstop.net
At this year's company annual meeting, the author gave a message to the Carbonstop consulting team, hoping that the consulting team can be as hard as C (diamond), supporting the company's business growth and capability enhancement; and also hoping that the consulting team can be as flexible as C (graphite), connecting various departments within the company, subtly supporting the company to achieve the goal of "letting every product have a carbon footprint."
Here, the author would also like to send this message to all readers in the carbon circle, hoping that our 2023 can be as hard-core as C (diamond), and also as flexible as C (graphite), connecting various units in society, letting the wind of carbon neutrality blow across the land of China!
