About

Climate Action is a multimedia platform consisting of a website, newsletter and annual publication, produced in partnership with UNEP. It aims to encourage businesses and large organisations to reduce their carbon footprint, and puts forward the business case for climate change – namely, that environmentally responsible operations can also be profitable. It is produced by Green Media Ltd., which is part of the respected Henley Media Group a privately-held media company with core interests in publishing, events, e-commerce and sampling.

Climate Action came out of an initiative launched in 1998 – Sustainable Development International (SDI), a quarterly publication and accompanying website which provided senior decision makers in the public, private and intergovernmental sectors with sustainable development and corporate social responsibility reference resources. SDI worked closely with UNEP, and a formal partnership was agreed between Henley Media Group and UNEP in 2006, to develop the Climate Action platform.

Launched in December 2007 for the COP13 in Bali, the annual Climate Action publication and the website, www.climateactionprogramme.org, offer comprehensive resources that promote multi-stakeholder dialogue between government and international industry, and highlight the sharing of best practice and new initiatives, while raising awareness of the latest market trends, threats and opportunities in response to rising global temperatures.

Strategy

As part of its corporate responsibility, Climate Action is committed to monitoring and mitigating its climate impacts and contributing to global efforts to tackle climate change. Previous work with the Gaia Group Ltd, Decarbon8 and Planet Positive to calculate the carbon footprint of the organisation, production and distribution of the Climate Action publication identified areas where mitigation is feasible. This analysis provides a basis for reduction in emissions and, hopefully, could also act as a catalyst for other media companies and their partners.

The carbon footprint of Climate Action was significantly reduced through measures such as revising the number of printed publications and limiting international travel, there were still areas where feasible emission reductions would be essential and significant.

Next steps are:

1. An environmental focal point has been appointed to be in charge of instituting, promoting and monitoring climate friendly office practices and principles for Climate Action staff.

2. Develop a greenhouse gas mitigation action plan for the publication production and distribution including a carbon reduction target for 2010 and onwards using the 2008 and 2009 results as a baseline figure.

3. Develop a greenhouse gas monitoring system to report yearly progress. Particularly, revise the definitions and study boundaries to improve future audits.

4. Offset the unavoidable emissions using a credible carbon offset provider. Office Targets Priorities for mitigation action are: heating, commuting, business travel, and paper consumption. Actions include:

• Establish monitoring of heat consumption and conduct an energy audit in the building occupied by Henley Media Group.

• Encourage the use of public transport for all staff members.

• Promote the use of trains for business travel when feasible.

• Use recycled paper when paper quality and durability are not an issue.

• Reduce the amount of printing; optimise the page printed surface to save paper.

• Raise knowledge and awareness of electricity saving practices such as switching off electrical devices when not in use and preferring energy efficient appliances.

• Put in place a waste segregation and recycling facility in the office and encourage its use especially for paper.

• Replace disposable items with reusable items.

• Investigate the possibilities for a greener energy for electricity and heating provision plan. Publication targets Priority.

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