Posted on 2020.06.17
In late 2019 Carbonzero Chief Operating Officer Dan Fraleigh met with Desjardins Group in Toronto to further solidify and celebrate a continued partnership to fight climate change. The financial group reinforced their commitment to acting on climate by adopting greener practices and continuing to grow initiatives originally launched in 2018.
In just two years, Desjardins have built upon their initial investment into a strong carbon emissions reduction plan. In addition to partnering with Carbonzero to invest in their carbon offset project of choice, the Niagara Escarpment Forest Carbon Project (NEFCP), they have achieved/set the following goals:
“Desjardins and its nearly 50,000 employees and eight million of members and clients can make a real difference in how we fight and adapt to climate change,” said Desjardins President and CEO Guy Cormier. “We need to change our habits and encourage others to follow suit. Our commitment to fast-track the inclusion of ESG criteria can be seen in everything we do and it’s going to grow moving forward.”
Desjardins has remained carbon neutral by purchasing carbon credits to help with the offset of GHG emissions. As of 2019 the organization has made the decision to support two additional Carbonzero carbon capture and emissions reduction initiatives beyond their support of the NEFCP in Ontario which promotes and maintains the function and diversity of ecosystems along the Niagara Escarpment:
By 2024, Desjardins has also pledged to continue to reduce GHG emissions by prioritizing programs to optimize business travel, reduce paper consumption and improve energy efficiency in all of its buildings.
Carbonzero is pleased to be working with Desjardins Financial Group. Assisting the organization with the reduction of their carbon footprint by helping them achieve carbon neutrality is a important part of what we do.
“Once again, Carbonzero is very proud to support Desjardins with their climate action objectives,” says Carbonzero COO Dan Fraleigh, “The addition of Les serres de Productions Horticoles Demers and Les serres coopératives de Guyenne to the Desjardins carbon offset portfolio allows both the organization and Carbonzero to achieve an even greater impact with their investment. When combined with the Niagara Escarpment Forest Carbon Project, these three Canadian-based projects form a trifecta of Carbonzero initiatives that support local communities and meet the highest standards and quality we provide to our clients. We hope to continue working with Desjardins for many years to come.”