What are the most effective CSR and climate change policies and programs for corporations?

1 Assess your carbon footprint

The first step to implementing effective CSR and climate change policies and programs is to measure your carbon footprint, which is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that your business activities generate. By calculating your carbon footprint, you can identify the sources and levels of your emissions, and set realistic and achievable goals to reduce them. You can use online tools, such as the Carbon Footprint Calculator, to estimate your carbon footprint, or hire a professional auditor to conduct a more detailed assessment.

2 Adopt green practices

The next step is to adopt green practices that can help you lower your carbon footprint and improve your environmental performance. Green practices can include using renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, improving your energy efficiency, such as by installing LED lighting or smart thermostats, reducing your waste generation, such as by recycling or composting, and promoting sustainable transportation, such as by encouraging carpooling or biking. Green practices can not only reduce your environmental impact, but also save you money, enhance your reputation, and attract more customers and investors.

4 Support climate action

The final step is to support climate action at the local, national, and global level, by aligning your business with the goals and initiatives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement aims to limit the global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. You can support climate action by committing to the Science Based Targets initiative, which helps businesses set ambitious and science-based emission reduction targets, joining the Race to Zero campaign, which mobilizes businesses to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and participating in the COP26 Climate Champions network, which showcases the best practices and innovations of businesses in tackling climate change.