In the summer of 2021 TotalWM took a corporate decision to start on its carbon neutrality journey and made a public commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2035. These two high level strategic targets are incredibly ambitious and can only be achieved via a significant shift in leadership and the introduction of a new strategic direction.

Fast forward to the close of 2022 and we’ve just received official certification from the Gold Standard for Climate Security and Sustainable Development, that our total emissions for our 2021 baseline year have been offset to one of its voluntary offset projects. By supporting environmental projects elsewhere in a secure and traceable manner it enables us to not only develop local and more sustainable economies but also allows us to become a carbon neutral organisation whilst we continue on our trajectory to reach net zero by 2035.

The Gold Standard (GS) is a voluntary carbon offset program focused on progressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring that projects benefit their neighbouring communities. The GS can be applied to voluntary offset projects and to Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. It was developed under the leadership of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), HELIO International, and SouthSouthNorth, with a focus on offset projects that provide lasting social, economic, and environmental benefits^[1].

The project supported by TotalWM is the Uganda Biomass Cookstove project led by Up Energy (project ID: CDM 9956/GS 10898). This project supplies energy-saving stoves to lower-income communities throughout Uganda, with stove users saving an average of 9% of their annual income on these new appliances^[2]. Historically demand for charcoal and firewood, most of which is unsustainably produced, drove devastating levels of deforestation in Uganda; funding the cookstove project through the sale of emissions reductions has led to both climate and social improvements to communities throughout this part of Africa^[2].

TotalWM are immensely proud to have been awarded the Gold Standard™ and to have been declared a carbon neutral company but we are acutely aware that this is only the start of our journey; the real challenge of being a net carbon emitter continues apace.

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^[1] Gold Standard

^[2] https://www.upenergygroup.com/projects

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