Good News for Carbon Offsets!

2023 was just confirmed as the hottest year on record, at 2.66 degrees Fahrenheit (1.48 degrees Celsius) above preindustrial levels. The trend is predicted to continue through 2024 and now, more than ever, we need all hands on deck in the climate movement. Your actions matter, your advocacy matters, your vote matters, and your voice matters as we, the climate activists, continue to drive change from the ground up. Are you with us? Let's dive in.

The Good Stuff

Germany's Green Triumph: Germany’s carbon emissions hit a 70-year low, falling 56% from 1996 and at the lowest levels since the 1950's. This shift is credited, in part, to the country's drastic cut in coal usage. There is more work to be done, but this is a major win to begin 2024. Read more via Independent.

Juneau's Cool Solution: The Mendenhall Glacier, a popular tourist attraction, has been retreating due to climate change, exacerbated by the use of fossil fuels to cater to the influx of visitors. To counteract this, tourists are being asked to contribute to the Alaska Carbon Reduction Fund, which invests the money in installing heat pumps for local residents who rely on oil heating systems. The program, started in 2019, aims to make renewables provide 80% of Juneau's energy by 2045. Read more via Grist.

No More Fungus Among Us: Researchers at the University of Nottingham have completed a successful field trial of a material they have developed to help to protect crops from fungi. The material could replace current anti-fungal pesticides, increase food security, and help protect wildlife. Read more via Phys.

The Bad Stuff

Built For... Fleeting Clout?: Once a built-for-life staple of the working class, social media has turned the Stanley Cup into a collection-worthy status symbol. The Stanley Cup craze reveals a deeper issue: Trend culture has driven overconsumption into dangerous territory. Read more via Wired.

Hoping for a Meltdown: Climate change has affected snow patterns across the Northern Hemisphere, including clear declines of snowpack in at least 31 individual river basins. Declines in snowpack, the total mass of snow on the ground, have serious implications for places that depend on spring snow melt as a water source. Read more via The New York Times.

Colorado's Critical Climate: A new report out of Colorado shows that the state has warmed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since the 1970s. Colorado continues to grow warmer as a result of climate change, leading to increased risks of wildfires and extreme drought. Read more via CBS.

On the Horizon: Emissions Reporting Requirements are Coming

The California Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act has been passed, mandating organizations with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion in California to disclose their Scope 1 and 2 emissions starting in 2026.

The legislation is a step in the green direction and aims to standardize emissions reporting, but it may pose challenges for organizations ill-equipped for these requirements.

Whether or not your company falls under the mandate, it is a good idea for both business and planet to prepare for emissions reporting and use that information to begin reducing your environmental impact.

This article in Forbes highlights 5 key steps to preparing your business for carbon emissions reporting.

We Are Neutral can help take the guesswork out of emissions reporting and reduction! Reach out today to schedule your free consultation.