BA has joined the UK Carbon Reporting Framework to help fund UK carbon reduction projects

On 30th August, a new Framework was launched, developed in a partnership between
BRE, BA (the first company), Deloitte and Forum for the Future. The Framework
acts as a matchmaker between carbon reduction projects, like community owned renewable
energy installations or energy efficient refurbishment of social housing and organisations
wishing to support such projects in the UK. Companies can fund carbon saving projects
and so get credits.  The website does not actually say that BA will be funding
any such projects, but that the new Framework will be working out how companies
can do so in future.


New website aims to channel millions to UK carbon-cutting schemes

3.9.2011 (UK Carbon Reporting Framework website)

http://www.ukcarbonreporting.org/index.jsp

The UK Carbon Reporting Framework will be launched today, developed in a partnership
between BRE, British Airways, Deloitte and Forum for the Future. The Framework
acts as a matchmaker between carbon reduction projects, such as community owned
renewable energy installations or the energy efficient refurbishment of social
housing and organisations wishing to support such projects in the UK.

The new Framework is being launched at Deloitte’s London offices on Tuesday 30th August. British Airways will be the first company to support the scheme through
their new One Destination Carbon Fund.

Jonathon Counsell, Head of Environment, British Airways said: “The UK Carbon
Reporting Framework marks a milestone for carbon management in the UK and British
Airways is incredibly proud to have been a founding partner and the first user
of the framework. Through our new One Destination Carbon Fund, which is due to
be launched in September, our customers can, help support carbon reduction projects
based in the UK – something that has not previously been available.”

Peter Madden, Chief Executive of Forum for the Future said “This is an innovative
approach to tackling climate change. The Framework enables funders to support
projects that have clear links to their work and the communities in which they
operate. It should result in more money going to tackle climate change, create
green jobs and will work well alongside other schemes in helping the UK meet its
targets.”

A major barrier to a greater level of UK corporate support for local projects
has been uncertainty about the carbon reduction and other benefits that funding
organisations can claim to have been achieved as a result of their support.

This is where the UK Carbon Reporting Framework aims to play a key role. It will
enable companies to understand the impacts of their investment, so they can make
the appropriate claims on the carbon savings and associated project benefits.

To achieve this, the Framework will require carbon reduction project developers
to use standardised carbon accounting methods to calculate the reductions associated
with their projects. Where these already exist such as the Woodland Carbon Code
they will be used. Where they are required BRE have initiated the development
of some new methodologies and will work with appropriate sector expert organisations
to develop new ones going forward.

Guy Battle, head of Deloitte’s sustainability services: “There is increasing
demand from businesses for a framework to facilitate investments of this type
in the UK. The UK Carbon Reporting Framework will help bridge this gap. It will
bring benefits to the communities through the projects funded, project sponsors
through increasing the reach of their sustainability programmes and also the environment
by securing carbon reductions. Deloitte is pleased to be supporting the Framework
which offers our clients another way to implement carbon reduction opportunities
outside their own boundaries.”

‘Our research and other evidence strongly demonstrates that UK corporates want
to support carbon reduction projects in this country’, says Jon d’Este-Hoare of
BRE, ‘there is also a ready supply of high quality projects in need of funding.
‘UK-based carbon reduction projects do not qualify for carbon offsetting schemes,
but offsetting is not the only way – or motivation – for companies to support
these projects. The reasons why companies want to support UK based projects are
many and varied, for some it may be the opportunity to support projects which
have a direct impact on the lives of their staff and customers, for others it
may be about communication – solar panels on the local school are easier to understand
than a carbon offset project overseas..

The Framework provides a database that will match projects with funders. Carbon
reduction initiatives and community groups can now go to a website at
www.ukcarbonreporting.org to register their projects. Funders will find authoritative information on the
benefits their support can achieve, and find out how best to integrate supporting
UK projects into their carbon management plans.

For further information contact Linda McKeown, BRE 01923 664569 mckeownl@bre.co.uk

See Forum for the Future’s Jonathon Porritt explaining the role of the UK CRF
in this video from the launch event

BRE 

BRE has been building a better world for almost 90 years through cutting edge
research, consultancy and testing services. Our unrivalled knowledge in regard
to sustainability and innovation is now used across the construction industry
and in the corporate world creating better buildings, communities and businesses.
BRE is part of the BRE Group of companies owned by the BRE Trust, a registered
charity. The profits made by BRE go to the BRE Trust the largest UK charity dedicated
specifically to research and education in the built environment. 
www.bre.co.uk

 

British Airways

British Airways is one of the world’s leading global premium airlines. It takes
its environmental responsibilities very seriously and focuses on assessing and
minimising the impact of its business on climate change. The airline aims to set
the standard in responsible aviation.

 

About Deloitte

In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte LLP,
which is among the country’s leading professional services firms.

Deloitte LLP is the United Kingdom member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited
(“DTTL”), a UK private company limited by guarantee, whose member firms are legally
separate and independent entities. Please see
www.deloitte.co.uk/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.

The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going
to press.

For more information, please visit www.deloitte.co.uk.

 

One Destination Carbon Fund

One Destination is British Airways’ corporate responsibility programme. The One
Destination Carbon Fund will be launched during September 2011 and will replace
BA’s carbon offset scheme. British Airways will donate all of the funds received
into the BA One Destination Carbon Fund to Pure the Clean Planet Trust (Registered
Charity No. 1112249)”

 

Forum for the Future

Forum for the Future is a non-profit organisation working globally with business
and government to create a sustainable future. It aims to transform the critical
systems that we all depend on, such as food, energy and finance, to make them
fit for the challenges of the 21st century. It has 15 years’ experience inspiring new thinking, building creative
partnerships and developing practical innovations to change our world.
www.forumforthefuture.org

The Forum’s work on energy has three key strands. It wants to scale up sustainable
heat, electricity and transport solutions. It wants to help design new products,
services and business models that will create a sustainable energy system. And
it wants to find new financial mechanisms to channel investment to innovative
energy solutions.
 
 
 
Comments from AirportWatch members:
 
Have I missed something, or would not the most effective “carbon reduction projects
based in the UK” be for BA and others to make fewer flights?
 
Maybe BA et al are in this to have control of the list and then point to reductions
– achieved by caring people other than themselves – that they then say are “their
carbon offsets”?

I can’t see why the Airplot Orchard at Sipson couldn’t be registered under the
Woodland Carbon Code – though I doubt if the tonnes of CO2 it has saved from no
third Heathrow runway could be accounted for in the sums. It might not be sponsored
by British Airways though.