As a country, Denmark emits only 0.1% of the world’s GHG emissions. But our ability to leapfrog towards a zero-emission society serves as an example to the world and provides for an impact far beyond the actual emission cuts.
Similarly, cBrain’s own emissions account for very little. But in the zero-emission society we are aiming for, all companies – large emitters and small – will have to become net-zero. We wish to start our journey sooner rather than later, and with this year’s Corporate Sustainability Report we’ve set a new target to become a net-zero company by 2030. We do this because we think it’s the right thing to do. But we acknowledge that it will be an ongoing process for years to come.
Companies look at their emissions in three scopes
Direct emissions (scope 1) e.g. emissions from the company’s conventional cars.
Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heating etc. (scope 2). e.g. emissions from the electricity procured for charging the company’s electric vehicles.
All other indirect emissions (scope 3). e.g. emissions from company taxi fares.
Like many other companies, we have already reported on scope one and two emissions, but will have to gradually develop our ability to account for scope three in partnership with our suppliers.
First steps in 2022 – solar power and offsetting cBrain has no scope 1 emissions. Our ambitions for 2022 is to become net-zero/offset all our emissions in scope 2 and take the first major steps in scope 3.
SCOPE 2
cBrain’s scope 2 emissions are the electricity, heating and water used in our office building.
Electricity: As a software company, our electricity consumption is already a concern. Automatic lights-off makes sure that rooms are only lit when used. Likewise, virtualizing desktops ensures that we have as few physical servers turned on as possible. To ensure that desktops are not running 24/7, we further use wake-on-LAN, which means that we can turn on a computer online. This enables software developers to turn on computers from their home office allowing them to work on their desktops without these needing to be turned on at all times.
In 2022 we will move to a new and bigger headquarters, but we expect the natural climate of the building to reduce the necessity for cooling and fans during summer.
“To make sure that our consumption
of electricity is net-zero, we have decided to secure green electricity certificates.”
The 0-mission will on our behalf deliver electricity from solar panels into the Danish power transmission system matching our consumption of electricity. The solar-park in Vandel, Jutland, will at the same time safeguard the groundwater reserves and increase biodiversity on the former farmland. We have chosen a Danish private park that does not receive government subsidies. This means that we are able to support the expansion of solar parks and renewable energy locally in Denmark.
Heating and Water: This is the second source of emissions. We will carefully monitor the opportunities to reduce the carbon-footprint from heating and water, but we will in the first year look to offset these emissions along with scope 3 emissions.
SCOPE 3
Travel: As an exporting company, travel is part of our business. During the pandemic, we have developed the ability to work with customers and deliver solutions through virtual meetings, but as the world reopens, we cannot avoid travelling. And while the world waits for sustainable ways of travelling, not least by air, we will account for and offset emissions stemming from our travels.
Datacenter: Data storage is one of the global ICT sector’s growing contributions to global warming. The ICT sector needs to address this concern – also because our customers will expect it. We intend to work with our suppliers to increase sustainability in our data storage and will account for and offset any emissions we cause until fully net-zero.
We believe that our biggest contribution to fight climate change is helping government act on their intents and execute their climate and environmental decisions in a fast, effective, and transparent manner.
However, we embark on our own net-zero journey because we too need to change and execute our intent to contribute to the green transition of the society we serve.
