Decarb Stories | Triodos
From our seat at the BACA secretariat, we bear witness to inspiring decarbonization stories on a daily basis. And we’d love to share them with you in this series of ‘Decarb Stories’.
Every month, we’ll single out one original story that happens upon our radar. Here's the decarb story of Triodos Bank.
We try to make sense of the world by telling stories.
What is the most impactful and/or most original CO2 reduction measure you implemented at your organisation?
As one of but a few in the banking sector, Triodos Bank measures the CO2-impact of the various sectors it finances on an annual basis. According to our latest report from 2021, emissions from the artistic and cultural sector accounts for 9.2% of all carbon emissions generated through financing, while the sector 'only' 5.2% represents of our credit portfolio.
The bank has set itself the objective of becoming net-zero by 2035 by acting on its entire value chain. That means that we'll not only tackle emissions in our internal operations - which is already the case; we will also address the credits granted and investments of its funds.
Why does your attention go specifically to the artistic and cultural sector?
To reduce our CO2 emissions, we often think of the energy, agriculture, transport and construction sectors. But cultural activities are also a significant source: through buildings, heating, transport of visitors and materials, digital hosting, production of sets or book printing.
The cultural sector, like other sectors, is faced with the task of identifying and reducing its CO2 emissions. Aware of the challenges, many professionals intend to anticipate any changes rather than undergo them.
So the question is: How can we finance culture and move forward together to reduce our emissions? In order to be realistic, efficient and fair, we are conducting this reflection with the actors in the field.
What was the impact of the implemented measure in terms of CO2 reduction (%), and, in a broader sense, on your organisation?
To give a concrete example:
The carbon impact of the entire operation of French cinemas would be 1.07 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, i.e. the carbon emissions of all the inhabitants of a city like Nancy.
And it is the cinemas in mega-models that weigh the most heavily in the balance sheet.The estimated carbon impact of a film is 750 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
(Source: Report on the study "Decarbonising culture" )
In Belgium, the Federation of Employers in the Performing Arts (FEAS) has carried out a study on the impact of the sector and obtained slightly different figures, but arrived at similar findings to the study carried out in France.
Do you have a decarbonization story to share of which you think it might inspire others? An emission reduction measure that yielded impressive results? Or have you been experimenting with a measure that – when replicated by others – could significantly bring down you sector’s carbon footprint?