80% of environmental professionals are concerned about the credibility and transparency of carbon credit offset programs, new research shows
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, June 19, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Businesses across the UK have raised concerns about the credibility and transparency of carbon credit offset schemes.
In a new report detailing the results of the National Environmental Services Survey – carried out in partnership with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), the Environmental Services Association (ESA), Groundwork and ESS Expo (Environmental Services and Solutions Expo) – 80% of respondents reported serious concerns about the integrity of carbon offset schemes. While almost a third of respondents (33%) believed that carbon offsetting is a viable strategy to achieve net-zero emissions, only 37% have adopted it as a strategy to reduce their business’s impact on the environment to decrease. You can download the full report and research results here.
Greenwashing also remains a major problem among industry insiders, with 94% of respondents believing it is widespread in the UK. By 2023, a quarter (25%) of respondents to the same survey stated that greenwashing was the only thing they would change about the environmental sector, as Rob Mowat, Managing Director of ESS Expo, explains:
“It is alarming to hear that so many sustainability experts believe that carbon offset programs are actually failing the environment. While there are a number of companies pursuing highly certified programs, there are concerns from many in the industry that these programs are simply another form of greenwashing and in some cases could cause more harm than good to the environment.”
Overall, perhaps unsurprisingly, climate change and global warming (32%) were cited as the biggest environmental and sustainability issues today, followed by environmental policy and governance (15%) and waste management and the circular economy (13%). Crucially, as we head into the general election, 37% of respondents believe current government policy is not supportive of achieving net zero targets, while just under a third (32%) say that this is one of the biggest obstacles to their organization reaching net zero, surpassed only by financial constraints (44%). Worryingly, only 3% of respondents said their organization is currently at net zero.
Reaching net zero
When it comes to achieving net zero emissions across all sectors, collaboration and partnerships are key. 85% of respondents indicate that collaboration is essential or very important. Furthermore, almost all respondents (99%) believe that innovation and technology will play a role in accelerating the path to net zero emissions, with almost all (87%) agreeing that this will play an important role. The top five areas of focus will be on expanding the circular economy (20%), progress in clean energy technologies (16%), public awareness and commitment to sustainability (15%), followed by strengthening policies and regulations and green infrastructure at age 14. % and 9% respectively.
Lee Marshall, Director of Innovation and Technical Services at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), said: “It is always valuable to get insights from those working in the sector. Pollution concerns show that resource and waste professionals want to do the right thing and take meaningful steps to support climate change. Britain has made good progress, but it is no surprise that people feel that policies on net zero emissions and the circular economy are not strong enough.
“We need policies that will accelerate the transition to a more resource-resilient and circular economy that is able to meet future material demand and support the fight against climate change, and this is something CIWM addresses in our ten policy recommendations for the new government calls for.”
Head of Climate and Energy Policy at the Environmental Services Association (ESA), Charlotte Rule, said: “It is clear from these alarming survey results that there is still much work to be done within the business community to demonstrate credibility and build trust in the efforts to reduce climate change. Cut carbon emissions, limit climate change and achieve net zero targets.
“Achieving net-zero must be a collaborative exercise, and that is what the ESA has sought to achieve through its Net-Zero Strategy – aligning organizations in our sector through a shared roadmap; speaking with one voice to the government to achieve a supportive policy environment and be mutually accountable to each other as a member body.”
The survey collected data from 1,498 professionals across the environmental services sector from April to May 2024. Download the full report for free on the ESS Expo website here: https://www.ess-expo.co.uk/national-environmental-services-survey-insights-2024
To register your interest in attending ESS Expo 2024 from 11-12 September at the NEC, Birmingham, visit the website here: https://www.ess-expo.co.uk/
Olivia Evans
Storm communications
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