Environment & Climate Change
About
Addressing challenges that climate change poses to businesses, economy and indeed society at large is critical to achieving long-term sustainability. Such actions must protect the interest of people, especially the most vulnerable.
CRB has applied its approach of engaging and supporting the private sector to combat climate and engage multiple stakeholders to co-create solutions. Its work on this thematic area is broadly classified into two areas:
(i) Private Sector’s contribution to Deforestation/Sustainable Landscapes, Biodiversity Conservation & Climate Change
(ii) Business/SMEs role in GHG Reduction
Deforestation/Sustainable Landscapes, Biodiversity & Climate
Sustainability Ambassadors
A continuing partnership between RSPO and CRB in India to help strengthen the demand for sustainable palm oil across supply chains. The overall goal of this partnership is, ‘businesses commitment and action towards certified sustainable palm oil in India’. The objectives of the partnership include:
- To support businesses with relevant knowledge/information/support to transition towards certified sustainable palm oil in India
- To offer learning and sharing opportunities for businesses and industry actors on the subject
- To engage with a wider group of key stakeholders for enabling support
ISPOC
The Sustainable Palm Oil Coalition for India (I-SPOC) was formed to promote uptake of sustainable palm oil and it’s derivatives in India. Launched in September 2018, this Coalition was conceived and founded by CRB, WWF – India, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and Rainforest Alliance. Additional details about I-SPOC may be found here
FOLU India CREST
FOLU India has launched its first action coalition in India. This action coalition brings together four organizations, viz. Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative India, WWF India, and World Resource Institute India (WRI India). The action coalition has been named as Food and Land Use India (FOLU India) Action Coalition for Responsible Sourcing & Trade of Commodities (in short FOLU India CREST). Additional details about FOLU India CREST may be found here.
TEEB Agri Food
Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) has partnered with The Capitals Coalition as the implementation partner for the project TEEB Agri Food, funded by the European Union.
TEEB for Agriculture & Food (TEEB Agri Food) project aims to protect biodiversity and contribute to a more sustainable agriculture and food sector in seven EU partner countries: Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and Thailand. CRB’s goal is to engage with the agri-business networks in India & communicate the project’s work to relevant businesses and offer insights and perspectives into the project as it progresses. Read more about this initiative here.
GHG Reduction
Food Loss & Waste - Implication on GHG Reduction
From CRB’s study of the agricultural value chain, many agri-businesses are working directly with farmers to facilitate good agronomic practices that result in better soil health, water stewardship, as well as regulating chemical fertilizer usage; for example via capacity building on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)
As part of CRB’s findings, it is found that there is a need to adopt value chain and commodity specific approaches, which accordingly will also provide data points on food loss and waste and accordingly convey as to where GHG emissions are occurring. This can accordingly inform business action plans on GHG reduction
Certain models/ approaches have an implication on GHG reduction. Consider, for example, the food bank model which diverts excess food production to beneficiaries. This diversion of food reduces greenhouse gas emissions as food does not end up in landfills.
Addressal of Food Loss and Waste forms part of the transition to a Circular Economy in agriculture. In this regard, CRB in its Briefing Paper on Addressing Food Loss & Waste for a Sustainable Agriculture Value Chain in India has suggested a framework that integrates Application of Circular Economy Principles in addressing FL&W
One of the pathways towards achievement of addressal of Food Loss and Waste will be via the power of multi-stakeholder collaborations. In this regard, CRB has joined the Friends of Champions 12.3 India Network.
