The Climate Pledge and Flooglebinder
Author: Megan Gareh, Geography Enthusiast
Read time: 4 minutes
Flooglebinder are travel experts and a certified B Corporation with tour experience in over 75 countries. We curate sustainable bespoke adventures that incorporate sustainability, conservation and wellness. As a BCorp organisation we use business as a force for good, meet the highest standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency, whilst tracking and monitoring our social and environmental impact.
200 businesses have accepted the challenge
We’re turning the climate crisis into climate action, reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement 10 years early. Find out more at The Climate Pledge here!
What is The Climate Pledge
The Climate Pledge is a challenge set to businesses and organisations to become carbon net zero by 2040, 10 years earlier than the Paris Agreement targets. Climate change is one of the major global issues that needs to be tackled and involving organisations is key to the fight to lower and offset emissions. Companies who sign this pledge commit to 3 principal areas of action:
1. Regular Reporting
Measuring and reporting on greenhouse gas emissions produced by the company
2. Carbon Elimination
Decarbonisation strategy implementation to improve efficiency and lead to real business change
Strategies to be in line with the Paris Agreement
3. Credible Offsets
Neutralise emissions to achieve carbon net zero by 2040
(The Climate Pledge, 2021)
This pledge is calling companies to take responsibility for their emissions and their way of running a business, promoting truly sustainable action. 115 companies have already signed the pledge. In 2019, Amazon and Global Optimism found The Climate Pledge. Since then, global companies such as Unilever, Microsoft, Uber and Mercedes-Benz have become signatories, taking action to reach carbon neutrality by 2040. Companies who sign up to the Pledge are involved in a community that shares knowledge and practices in order to reach net zero. Alongside the Pledge, a $2 billion investment by Amazon has kickstarted The Climate Pledge Fund to fuel a low carbon economy.
Flooglebinder and The Climate Pledge
Sustainability is already at the heart of Flooglebinder. As the first travel company in the UK to become a B Corporation, carbon neutrality has always been a target. Certified B Corporations use business as a force for good, considering the people and environment along with economic decisions (BCorp, 2021). Flooglebinder aims to inspire change for people and planet by immersing people in the environments we are trying to protect. In 2018, Flooglebinder ran the first carbon positive trip and already offset 120% of emissions.
Emissions
Between July 2019 and July 2020, fuel, electricity, business and commuting emissions were offset to achieve carbon neutrality, as verified by One Carbon World. This means that all carbon emissions produced by Flooglebinder during the year have been offset so that the carbon taken from the atmosphere exceeds carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Air travel is one of the biggest contributors to emissions both for Flooglebinder but also for the general population as a single economy flight can constitute 10% of annual carbon emissions for an average person (Carbon Footprint, 2021).
Offsetting Emissions
Flooglebinder offset emissions in two key ways:
International reforestation projects
Guanaré Forest Plantation Project
This plantation is in Uruguay and aims to convert degraded grassland into forest plantations, restoring the land and improving a host of natural processes by replenishing the soil quality, soil biology and minimising harmful erosion and leaching. This is not just environmentally beneficial. By aiding a reforestation project, it can help the local community to adapt to climate impacts and provides vital ecosystem services. This reforestation feeds into the local ‘Schools Project’, helping the local community to learn about the local environment and how to sustainably manage it.
United Nations clean development mechanism projects
Signing the Climate Neutral Now pledge means Flooglebinder has committed to measuring their emissions, actively identifying and reducing emissions and contributing to a project.
By joining The Climate Pledge, it connects Flooglebinder to all the other businesses taking a step towards helping the planet achieve carbon neutrality. Signing the Pledge will be an exciting way for Flooglebinder to be united to a wider world of businesses striving to help the environment.
References
BCorp. (2021) B Corporations. https://bcorporation.net/ [12.09.21]
The Climate Pledge. (2021) The Climate Pledge. https://www.theclimatepledge.com/us/en [09.09.21]
Carbon Footprint. (2021) Sustainable Flying. carbonfootprint.com - Sustainable Flying [16.09.21]
