30.9.2020

Castrén & Snellman to Compensate Carbon Footprint through Safe Water Project in Rwanda

Castrén & Snellman will compensate its 2019 carbon footprint by buying emissions reductions through a clean water project in Rwanda that will reduce the burning of wood. Compensating its carbon footprint is part of Castrén & Snellman’s work to reduce its climate impact.

‘The Rwanda Boreholes project is part of the UN’s emissions compensation system. The system focuses on developing countries that do not have their own emissions reduction targets. By compensating our emissions through these projects, we are helping to more fairly distribute the burden of fighting climate change’, says Castrén & Snellman’s Head of Sustainability Anna Kuusniemi-Laine.

‘Our personnel voted on what compensation project to support’, Kuusniemi-Laine says. The firm has previously compensated its air travel emissions and has now expanded compensation to cover its other emissions sources, as well.

Along with reducing and compensating its emissions, Castrén & Snellman is launching a climate project in Finland later this autumn.

Safe Water Reduces the Burning of Wood and Promotes Health

The Rwanda Boreholes project restores and repairs boreholes in the least developed parts of Rwanda, removing the need for communities to burn wood to boil their water for purification. The reduction in emissions comes directly from reduced wood burning. The project also has significant health impacts.

This Gold Standard certified emissions reduction project is carried out by South Pole, a sustainable development expert organisation with experience from over 700 emissions reduction projects.

Targeting a 25% Carbon Footprint Reduction by 2025

Castrén & Snellman completed its first carbon footprint calculation this summer. Based on the calculation, the firm set itself the goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 25% from its 2019 level by 2025.

As a member of the UN Global Compact, Castrén & Snellman is committed to the UN’s sustainable development goals and to taking action against climate change. The Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.

Carbon Footprint Mapping, Reduction and Compensation Part of C&S’s Sustainability Work

The mapping, reduction and compensation of its carbon footprint are now a part of Castrén & Snellman’s annual sustainability work. The firm will continue to refine its picture of its climate impact and follow-up on its emissions reduction targets to make sure they remain ambitious.