While most people today have heard about “Global Warming” and its devastating consequences, many don’t pause to reflect on the role they personally play in contributing to it.
Greenhouse gases (GHG) trap heat in the atmosphere, making the Earth warmer and causing a variety of damaging consequences to the environment. One way that carbon dioxide, the most prevalent greenhouse gas, is released into the atmosphere is through the burning of fossil fuels. Consequently, most industries are unfortunately contributing to Global Warming, and the transportation sector is no exception. Every time a car is started or smoke is emitted from the muffler, harmful gasses are released.
Encouragingly, a growing number of companies in the transportation industry are interested in measuring and reducing their GHG emissions and related costs. One of the initiatives that help companies do just that is the Climate Smart program. A social enterprise based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Climate Smart enables businesses to track and reduce their GHG emissions on an ongoing basis. Formed in 2007, the initiative was born out of the recognition that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which drive the economy, have largely been overlooked by climate change policy. Driven by its belief that this sector can play a key role in addressing climate change, the organization has helped over 800 businesses profitably track and reduce their GHG emissions.
The Climate Smart program was designed to present GHG management, which can be a complex, overwhelming exercise, as a critical and, more importantly, achievable task. Climate Smart uses a combination of software, training and personalized, ongoing support to help businesses succeed in developing the tools and awareness necessary to reduce their GHG emissions.
Climate Smart’s curriculum and GHG emissions tool are based on the World Resource Institute’s Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard (GHGP), which is the internationally recognized accounting standard for greenhouse gas inventories. In order for a business to achieve Climate Smart certification, a Climate Smart client advisor conducts an external review of the business’ GHG inventory for adherence to the GHGP. Upon certification, a business is provided with a GHG inventory report and reduction plan, outlining the inventory’s methodology, emissions sources, the company’s emission profile, and the emissions reduction plan. Businesses are encouraged to carry out GHG inventories each year and implement reduction strategies that can be measured annually.
Musket and the Climate Smart Program
Musket Transport has always had an interest in doing its part to protect and preserve the environment. So naturally, when we became aware of the program’s existence, we were immediately interested in participating. To earn Climate Smart certification, businesses must attend three four-hour training sessions (two in-person and one virtual). They also receive one-on-one advising and a customized GHG report. In addition to providing participants with guidance and advice, Climate Smart trainers share information about utility rebates that help businesses access incentive programs that will assist with their energy and fuel conservation initiatives.
Two Musket Transport staff members – Sophia Begidzhanov, Product and Project Manager and Travis Francis, Marketing Associate – attended the Climate Smart training sessions. On November 20th, the team completed their third and final training session and Musket Transport received its Climate Smart certification.
This is the first time this training has been offered in the province of Ontario. Musket is proud to be the first trucking company in the province to receive this training and earn the certification. Musket sought out certification not just to “appear green” but because we take environmentalism seriously.
Recently, Musket Transport supported two art installations and events which were specifically focused on the environment. As part of our efforts to raise awareness about the problem of pollution, we supported a large-scale Ocean’s Day art installation that Dell EMC Canada commissioned multidisciplinary artist Anya Mielniczek to create.
Musket also sponsored and was involved in “The Work of Wind: Air, Land, Sea”, an exhibition at the Mississauga based Art Festival designed to expand perspectives on climate change through artistic practices, cultural inquiry, and political mobilization. The event has been organized by the University of Toronto Mississauga and Blackwood Gallery, and the Musket team was happy to have the opportunity to get behind this powerful environmental project.