Introduction

“The science, but also increasingly the day-to-day experience of millions of people, tell us climate change is a reality. Addressing it is an opportunity we cannot fail to take. So why not address it now? And if not here, where? If not now, when?”

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director

It is clear from your presence on this page that you are concerned about the danger our world is currently facing due to climate change and that you want to learn about what you might be able to do to help move away from a carbon dependent way of life. It’s not an overwhelming impossibility and the purpose of this site is to offer practical solutions.

Not everything will be easy to do, but these pages provide tips and examples of actions that other businesses, political and civil society leaders have taken. Whether you are an individual, business, city administration, or country you can take steps towards a more climate friendly way of life.

Industry is a major contributor to global warming and it could be a huge part of the solution. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have grown steeply since the Industrial Revolution and each sector has a contribution to make in kicking the carbon habit. From heavy industry to transport to agriculture; from construction to tourism to waste management, this website makes suggestions on how to move towards carbon neutrality.

But why is this important? You will be aware that fossil fuels are running out and the climate is altering in ways that could be devastating for our planet and way of life.
What is not so obvious is that there is an economic as well as a moral incentive for taking action.

In 2009, economists working with UNEP announced that investing one per cent of global GDP into five sectors, from renewable energy to freshwater, could, in conjunction with other measures, revive the global economy, boost employment and stop climate change.

Energy efficiency, along with cleaner and renewable forms of energy generation, is one of the pillars upon which a de-carbonized world will stand or fall. Between 2000 and 2030 energy consumption is expected to grow by between 40 and 110 per cent.

New energy infrastructure investments in developing countries, upgrades of energy infrastructure in industrialized countries, and policies that promote energy security, can, in many cases, create opportunities to achieve GHG emission reductions.

It is already happening. Investment capital flowing into renewable energy climbed from $80 billion in 2005 to a record $100 billion in 2006.


Personal and commercial Transport consumes about 20 per cent of global energy supply, 80 per cent of which comes from fossil fuels. Cleaner technologies, improved urban planning and the introduction of price signals that capture the full costs of different modes of transport are just some of the policy options that can bring about a shift to low-carbon mobility.

A growing number of companies are implementing innovative approaches to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint, from fleet optimization to the use of sustainable biofuels as jet fuel.

The hybrid car, a mixture between a gasoline-powered and electric car, has become one of the icons in the fight against climate change, while high-speed rail networks are increasingly competing with airlines on punctuality, pricing and speed.

Buildings account for approximately 30 per cent of GHG emissions globally. Being energy efficient will save money for business as lighting alone can account for up to 40 per cent of a company’s total electricity bill. Local authorities can systematically plan for energy efficiency by retrofitting buildings and heating systems, installing efficient lighting systems and building combined heat and power units in large public buildings.

Furthermore, different building materials have different impacts on the environment. For example concrete can be recycled, by crushing it to replace gravel in road construction, but cement, an industry which contributes about 5 per cent of global CO2 emissions, has no viable recycling potential.

The Agri-food section describes how carbon emissions from tilling and deforestation, fertilizer production and food transport add to the biggest contributor to climate change from that sector: methane and nitrous oxide releases as a result of meat production.






Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors and a number of countries position themselves as carbon friendly destinations. This website provides more information on opportunities for carbon savings by tour operators, air travel industry and hotels or other businesses in the hospitality sector.





There is a strong role the Information and communication technology sector can play in reducing its emissions. The Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy calculates that the production of one PC uses as much energy as a household does in a year. A PC also requires 1.5 tonnes of raw materials. Furthermore, the companies that provide online services require vast amounts of electricity as IT facilities require cool environments.

The information provided on the Climate Neutral Network website is also a resource for the textile industry, the banking and finance industry, as well as for those dealing with forest management and waste.