{{Short description|British profit-for-purpose carbon management consultancy and project developer}} {{Infobox company | name = CO2balance | logo = CO2balance_Company_Logo.jpg | type = Private | industry = Environmental services | fate = | predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = --> | successor = <!-- or: | successors = --> | founded = <!-- if known: {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} in city, state, country -->2003 | founder = <!-- or: | founders = -->Mark Simpson | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | hq_location_city = Taunton | hq_location_country = UK | num_locations = 3 (United Kingdom, Kenya, Uganda) | area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = -->Worldwide (consultancy) Sub-Saharan Africa (projects) South Asia (projects) | key_people = | products = Carbon credits, SDG Impact Outcomes | services = Project Development Carbon Management Carbon Offsetting Carbon Footprinting Life Cycle Analysis ESOS assessments CSR programmes | owner = <!-- or: | owners = --> | num_employees = | num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) --> | parent = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }} '''CO2balance UK Ltd''' is a British profit-for-purpose carbon management consultancy and project developer founded in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/04903159|title=CO2balance UK Limited - Overview|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref> It is known for developing carbon finance projects in developing countries that reduce carbon emissions and support the Sustainable Development Goals. CO2balance also provides businesses and individuals with carbon footprint calculation and reduction services, bestowing the label of ‘CarbonZero’ on those organisations that completely offset the footprint of their operations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ikogroup.co.uk/about-iko/sustainability/carbonzero/|title=IKO achieves CarbonZero standard with carbon offsetting projects|website=IKO Group Plc|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

CO2balance has two local subsidiaries in Kenya and Uganda, under the titles of CarbonZero Kenya Ltd and CO2balance Uganda Ltd.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://yellowpageskenya.com/site/details/1161294|title=Carbon Zero Kenya Ltd|website=Yellow Pages Kenya|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/partnership/?p=13456|title=Toshiba CarbonZero Scheme - United Nations Partnerships for SDGs platform|website=sustainabledevelopment.un.org|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

== History == CO2balance was founded in 2003 by former research chemist Mark Simpson and associated colleagues. Their goal was to create an organisation that worked to mitigate climate change, using the then-novel method of carbon finance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://companycheck.co.uk/company/04903159/CO2BALANCE-UK-LIMITED/companies-house-data|title=CO2Balance UK Limited|website=Company Check|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

CO2balance started out by developing locally based carbon finance initiatives in the UK, such as forestry projects in Bishops Wood and Somercombe Wood in Devon, and Sand Martin Wood in Cumbria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oursouthwest.com/envec/wood.htm|title=ENVEC Wood - A lasting legacy for the South West|website=www.oursouthwest.com|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://masticasphaltcouncil.co.uk/news/mastic-asphalt-helping-change-the-planet/|title=Mastic asphalt helping change the planet|website=Mastic Asphalt Council|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carbonzeroplanet.org/projects/information.php?n=sand_martin_wood|title=CarbonZeroPlanet.org - Projects: Information|website=www.carbonzeroplanet.org|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

As the carbon market developed, the company started to explore the possibility of implementing carbon projects in Africa, as a means to channel revenue from carbon finance into the sustainable development of some of the world's poorest communities. In 2007, CO2balance began investing in solar power and improved cookstove projects in East Africa.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Articles/2015/Oct/deep_cookstoves_report_lq_for_web.pdf|title=The Improved Cookstove Sector in East Africa: Experience from the Developing Energy Enterprise Programme (DEEP)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://micro.carbonzerofederation.com/project.php?pid=20|title=Low Carbon Village Project|website=micro.carbonzerofederation.com|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref> Soon thereafter the company established two local offices in Kenya and Uganda.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

In 2008, the company collaborated with 7 other carbon management organisations to found the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA), a non-profit organisation that promotes best practice across the voluntary carbon market.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.co2balance.com/about/memberships.php|title=Memberships|website=www.co2balance.com|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icroa.org/page-18187|title=ICROA Audit Status|website=www.icroa.org|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

By 2012, CO2balance had started to implement energy-efficiency projects under the Gold Standard, VCS and CDM carbon standards, with a particular focus on fuel efficient cookstoves and safe water technology. In 2013 CO2balance registered the first multi-country programme of activities (PoA) for micro-scale projects under the Gold Standard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://co2balance.com/projects/projects.php|title=Projects|website=www.co2balance.com|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref> Since then CO2balance has expanded its scope of activities from East Africa into Southern Africa, West Africa and Southern Asia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://co2balance.com/projects/where-we-work|title=Where We Work|website=www.co2balance.com|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref> In 2017, CO2balance began developing projects for the Gold Standard's new Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG), and became the first organisation to pilot SDG 5 (Gender Equality) for the standard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldstandard.org/blog-item/quantifying-progress-toward-un-goal-%E2%80%98empower-all-women-and-girls%E2%80%99|title=Quantifying progress toward UN goal to 'Empower all women and girls'|website=www.goldstandard.org|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

In November 2018, representatives of CO2balance presented the 2018 .eu Web Award for a Better World to the Stardust Smart Cities project in Brussels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://co2balance.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/2018-eu-web-awards-gala/|title=2018 .eu Web Awards Gala|last=graceayoo|date=2018-11-27|website=co2balance|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

== Operations == CO2balance operates as both a primary project developer and a consultant for a range of carbon management services for both private and public sector organisations. thumb|305x305px|CO2balance hosting a community meeting in Uganda.

=== Project development === CO2balance designs and delivers climate protection projects in sub-Saharan Africa, generating marketable carbon credits from the resultant emissions reductions. However, the company is also dedicated to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so ensures that as well as reducing {{CO2}} emissions, the projects also deliver real and demonstrable benefits to target communities. CO2balance adheres to a profit for purpose approach, whereby revenue from the sale of carbon credits is used to maintain projects over the long term and reinvested into new project development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.manageditmag.co.uk/toshiba-videos-2017/|title=Toshiba & co2balance.com Videos 2018 – Managed IT Magazine (Print IT)|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref> The company typically works in partnership with in-country NGOs to implement their projects.

The impacts of projects are verified primarily under the Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG), as well as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Verified Carbon Standard. GS4GG requires projects to demonstrate a clear and direct contribution to at least 3 SDGs, such as gender equality, health, and water/sanitation, to accelerate global progress towards climate security and sustainable development. In 2017, CO2balance became the first organisation to pilot the GS4GG methodology for SDG 5 (Gender Equality). [[File:Kenya Stove Project (11) 2017.jpg|thumb|305x305px|Workers building improved cookstoves as part of a CO2balance clean cooking project in Kenya.]]

CO2balance projects contribute primarily to the following SDGs:

* '''SDG 3:''' '''Good Health and Wellbeing''': by reducing exposure to household air pollution and water borne diseases. * '''SDG 5:''' '''Gender Equality''': by reducing time-poverty amongst women who disproportionately carry out unpaid domestic duties. * '''SDG 6:''' '''Clean Water and Sanitation''': by providing access to safe water for communities without improved water sources. * '''SDG 7:''' '''Affordable and Clean Energy''': by replacing inefficient traditional cooking methods with improved clean cooking technology. * '''SDG 13''': '''Climate Action''': by reducing the amount of wood burned to cook and purify water, reducing carbon emissions.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://uk.medical.canon/un-recognises-canon-medical-systems-carbon-neutral-agenda/|title=UN Recognises Canon Medical Systems' Carbon Neutral Agenda|date=2019-03-06|website=Canon Medical Systems Ltd|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

=== Carbon management === CO2balance works with businesses on a range of carbon management services, such as carbon footprinting, energy efficiency assessments, life cycle analyses and carbon offsetting. Footprinting and life cycle assessments typically represent the first step in the carbon management process and are used to identify the key sources of emissions within an organisation's operations and any potential areas of savings. Audits are conducted to comply with BSI PAS 2060, ISO 14064 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bir.org.uk/media-centre/news/2014/december/toshiba-goes-greener/|title=Toshiba goes green - British Institute of Radiology|website=www.bir.org.uk|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.co2balance.com/about/faq.php|title=FAQ'S - CO2balance|website=www.co2balance.com|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref> Footprints may then be negated via the purchase of project-generated carbon credits. CO2balance also conducts carbon and energy auditing for large companies’ Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) assessment reports.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.carbonzero.co.uk/working-with-co2balance/esos.php|title=Energy Saing Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)|website=www.co2balance.com|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

CO2balance has worked with organisations such as Toshiba, Canon Medical and Sky.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.toshibatec.eu/about/sustainability/carbon-zero/|title=Toshiba Carbon Zero Scheme {{!}} Toshiba Tec Europe|website=www.toshibatec.eu|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/cycling/news/17546/7001412/team-sky-go-green-for-tour|title=Team Sky go green for Tour|website=Sky Sports|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref> <!-- Deleted image removed: thumb|290x290px|Workers preparing solar panels for a health centre in Uganda, as part of a CO2balance CSR programme. -->

=== CarbonZero === CarbonZero is a standard set up by CO2balance. It is provided under license to client organisations for whom a product, service or their entire operations have achieved a net carbon footprint of zero, achieved by purchasing CO2balance carbon credits. Organisations that have been branded CarbonZero include Toshiba, Canon Medical and Hill Dickinson.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/hill-dickinson-puts-down-roots-to-offset-carbon-emissions/44960.article|title=Hill Dickinson puts down roots to offset carbon emissions|date=September 1, 2006|website=Law Society Gazette|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

=== Corporate social responsibility === CO2balance offers a corporate social responsibility service to corporate clients, to complement the environmental and social benefits of their climate protection projects. Such CSR projects focus on developing key facilities within rural communities, such as WASH facilities for schools, disease management training, solar systems and renovation of healthcare centres.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://carbonzero.co.uk/investors/csr.php|title=Corporate Social Responsibility|website=www.co2balance.com|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/SCC-CSR-Report-FY15.pdf|title=SCC CSR Report 2015}}</ref>

== See also ==

* Climate change * Carbon finance * Gold Standard * Clean Development Mechanism * Voluntary Carbon Standard * Sustainable Development Goals * Corporate social responsibility * International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA)

== References == __FORCETOC__

<references />

Category:Carbon finance Category:Companies based in Taunton