Delta under Siege...You might be the next one on your carbon neutral or Net Zero claims

This afternoon, as I jet off to #rwanda with a mission of supporting Rwanda #Stock #exchange in the establishment of #esg guidelines for the listed companies, I have the opportunity of flying Rwandaiar. As I get into the plane; I cannot stop thinking about the class action case that has been filed in #california in relation to the acclaimed “world’s first carbon-neutral airline”- Delta airlines.

Delta Air Lines is on a USD 1 Billion plan that aims to get to carbon neutrality by purchasing voluntary carbon credits generated from conserving rainforest, wetlands and grasslands along with decreasing the use of jet fuel and increasing plane efficiency.

Voluntary #carbon offset market can meaningfully guarantee #carbonneutral for companies provided the right technical assistance and support has been provided. This will help the company to avoid #greenwashing claims that it is gaining market premium and reputation by providing #green products or services from a misleading #environmental claim. This is the contention on the class action case facing Delta.

At Impact Africa Consulting Limited (IACL) , we have been guiding #companies on their net zero and carbon neutrality strategies as part of the broader sustainability advisory services. www.impactingafrica.com with the aim of providing the backstopping of such acquisitions.

The class-action lawsuit says Delta’s carbon neutrality claim is demonstrably false as it heavily relies on junk offsets that do nothing to counteract the climate crisis. It alleges that customers would have purchased Delta tickets believing they had no impact on the environment and many would not have bought them without the carbon neutrality claim.

Delta is not alone in this Disney, Shell, Gucci and other big corporations are being accused of having largely worthless Verra rainforest credits which are said to be based on stopping the destruction of rainforests that were not threatened. We expect more and more such cases into the future due to the large number of corporate having unsubstantiated claims on their #netzero and carbon neutrality claims.

Personally, I cannot be able to comment on the validity of the carbon neutral or net zero strategies of the above companies and how valid the carbon credits claim, and strategies are. But one thing for sure, is that every corporate leader who is planning or claiming carbon neutrality or net zero will need to be concerned on how solid their #climatechange strategy is.

We at Impact Africa Consulting Limited (IACL) , we are working with various corporate in Kenya and beyond in supporting them to ensure they have credible carbon strategies, climate change strategy as well as their broader sustainability strategies.

Kundos to Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company, BAT Kenya, Isuzu, Kenya Wine Agencies Limited, Diamond Trust Bank, KCB Group, Mitchell Cotts, Bamburi, Rwanda Stock Exchange, Credit Bank, British High Commission in Nairobi, Development Bank of Kenya for engage us to support you with your #sustainability journeys