class=”sc-29f61514-0 fQbOYE”>
Greenland alderman Bastien Girod (42) refutes allegations against his employer Zuidpool. The company is accused of doing business with oil companies and Russia’s Gazprom, greenwashing and trading in sometimes questionable certificates.
As head of the European company, Girod admits in the Sunday newspaper interview that South Pole concluded a transaction with Gazprom in 2015 as part of European emissions trading. But more importantly, “We are closely guiding more than 1,000 companies outside the oil and gas industry on their journey to net zero.” They are supported in measuring the footprint and developing a CO2-Reduction scheme and the switch to renewable energy sources.
Girod also indicates that he was personally present when South Pole decided immediately after the outbreak of the offensive war against Ukraine to stop doing business with Russian companies.
Not fun, but necessary
But business is still done with other oil companies. The environmental politician says that with the sale of CO2certificates would fund specific climate projects around the world. “For example, the money from the oil companies goes to the construction of new solar or wind systems or to projects that prevent deforestation in a certain place.”
For Griod it is “important and rightly so that as much money as possible is funneled away from these oil companies for such purposes”. In this respect, he considers cooperation with the oil and gas industry necessary, “even if the companies are not sympathetic to me”.
help with change
And the Greens applaud the fact that South Pole employees are discussing the sensibility of working with such companies. “It goes against working with oil companies and similar companies if it helps them pretend they’re doing something for the climate, even though their business is damaging the climate.”
On the other hand, the need to invest profits in climate protection speaks in favor of cooperation. In addition, companies such as Ørsted are helped to transform from oil and gas companies to the largest wind companies.
you do something
And he describes the criticism of the jungle protection certificates for a project in Zimbabwe as incorrect, since deforestation is avoided and CO2 is thus saved.
Girod also believes that the criticism of doing nothing should be louder than of companies that engage in greenwashing. After all, those who voluntarily buy certificates do something for the climate. That’s a lot better than the vast majority of companies doing nothing. And research shows that these companies are also doing more to reduce their direct emissions. (pt)
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
