What steps can you take in the workplace to reduce carbon and increasing biodiversity?

Previous COP commitments

National and international targets have been set to reverse environmental decline and prevent the world from reaching the point of no return in respect of climate change and biodiversity loss. The two key agreements reached at previous COPs are:

• ‘The Paris Agreement’ which commits signatories to keeping global warming ideally to a maximum of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels; and,
• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (also known as the Biodiversity Plan) which has four overarching goals to be achieved by 2050 focusing on ecosystem and species health including:
  • To halt human-induced species extinction;
  • the sustainable use of biodiversity;
  • equitable sharing of benefits; and,
  • closing the biodiversity finance gap.

As a result of these agreements, we’re already seeing businesses make their own Net Zero commitments, plans and strategies. Nature is somewhat behind climate in terms of policy but there are frameworks in place such as the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CRSD) which requires all businesses with a footprint in the EU (so whether they’re an EU organisation or not) to complete biodiversity impact reporting.

Furthermore, the Taskforce on Nature Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), part-funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was launched in 2023. While not yet mandated this voluntary scheme provides a framework for reporting a business’s impacts and dependencies on nature (aspects of nature that we rely on such as water or trees or plants).

Systems, Processes and People 

The need is evident, and the frameworks and systems are becoming established. However, the workforce needs to be on board for real change to happen, people need to be equipped with ‘Green Skills’.

What are green skills?

Green Skills training in the workplace can include two aspects. The first, a standard element, for everyone, covering ecosystem services to explain how all life is supported by the natural environment.

The second aspect should be bespoke to the specific organisation or role explaining what environmental impacts might look like, what resources the organisation depends upon to function, what actions are required to reduce the environmental impacts, and what opportunities are available to enhance the natural environment.

If Green Skills training was commonplace we would have a workforce where considering nature was automatic; everyone would think of the risk, financial cost, and environmental cost as a matter of course.

This may sound like a huge challenge and may be a future that is difficult to see. However, the same could be said for Digital Technology in the late 1990s. Who at that time could have envisioned a workplace where everyone used computers?

Digital or Information Technology was once confined to a specific department or role or subcontracted out to specific specialists.

By specialists (those with Green Jobs) and non-specialists (those with Green Skills Training) working together meeting our environmental commitments and ultimately improving the health of the planet and people can be achieved.