What does the 1.5 degrees increase mean for the planet?
09/07/2021
When fossil fuels are burned to produce energy, they release carbon-based gases such us carbon dioxide that stay in our atmosphere acting like a greenhouse, trapping heat from the sun and warming the planet. This heat is making the earth very hot and our climate unstable. Already the average global temperature has increased by 1°C.
Warming above 1.5°C can have terrible consequences such as further sea level rise, extreme weather, biodiversity loss and species extinction, as well as food scarcity, worsening health and poverty for millions of people worldwide.
What can be done to solve this problem?
We can reduce carbon emissions such us carbon dioxide to net-zero to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To achieve this, we need to balance the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere with the amount that is removed.
We can remove Carbon in numerous ways, such as naturally by planting trees as well as through new technologies but we also need to reduce emissions from our homes, offices, transport, agriculture, industry, and more to get the balance right.
This is a big year for climate. International agreements will be vital to reducing carbon emissions and slowing climate change.
We are using our knowledge and leadership to engage our customers and suppliers on sustainability, working together to achieve a low-carbon future.
Below are just some of the actions we are taking:
- We’ve almost eliminated single-use plastics from our offices
- We offer property customers the option to restore their damaged items rather than replace, reducing landfill
- 100% renewable electricity in all our offices
- When we refurbish our offices we donate furniture to charities and good causes offsetting 139,000 Kg of CO2 – Zurich - Collecteco
- We use recycled parts in non-mechanical motor repairs such as bumpers on motor vehicles to cut down on waste and carbon emissions
- We’ve reduced our paper usage by 150 tonnes
To see more articles about how we are committed to creating sustainable value for our shareholders, our customers, our employees and the communities in which we live and work, please visit our Sustainability Hub.
