It’s not easy being green, but more ready to do so

Companies seek to create compelling narrative to reflect their efforts to improve environment

Carbon offsets are still considered by some just a good way to burn money, whether they are energy-efficient modifications or emission-slashing wind and solar farms.

But a growing number of individuals and companies in China are now looking at such expenses in a different light. They are taking steps to manage their greenhouse gas emissions, reducing their climate impact while creating a compelling narrative that features ways to increase business opportunities and brand value.

“Though three decades of China’s rapid economic growth have boosted demand for fossil fuel energy, at the same time, it also poses a threat to the environment where we are living,” said Sze Ping LO, CEO of World Widelife Fund China.

“But the good thing is that the country now realizes the importance of keeping a sustainable economy while sharply reducing the emissions that drive air pollution,” he said.

China plans to increase the percentage of non-fossil fuels in its overall primary energy mix to 11.4 percent this year, according to the country’s 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), which will keep the country on course to achieve its goal of 15 percent by 2020.

Because China, the world’s largest energy consumer, is determined to cut its climate impact, companies are more willing to integrate a carbon footprint reduction into their corporate strategy.

The Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and industrial engines, said it has already formed a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. They plan to work together to decrease the company’s carbon footprint in the next five years from both the production process and vehicle emissions.

“We are trying to be completely carbon neutral in the future. However, it is no easy task,” said Roger Chen, president of Volvo Group China.

The Swedish multinational said it plans to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by another 40 million metric tons by 2020, after it cut about 40 million tons from 2009 to 2014.

“When it comes to green- house gas reduction, we know that we will bear higher costs to optimize our products and to make our facilities more climate friendly,” Chen said. “But I think it is something that needs to be done, because it is a long-term vision which helps us stay ahead of the market in sustainable transport solutions and it’s also the future of the transportation industry.”

Rechargeable Volvo buses are already being tested. They have up to 80 percent less emissions than a diesel bus, but the company still has a long way to go.

The company’s truck plant in Ghent, Belgium, became the automotive industry’s first carbon-neutral production facility in 2007.

The plant invested in wind power and a biofuel plant to produce electricity and heat, resulting in annual reduction in carbon emissions of 10,000 tons.