BP Helps People Breathe Easier

If you read this statement on a webpage, you might think that it was put there by an organization other than the one that put it there:

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and is in large part due to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities. The IPCC believes that warming of the climate will probably lead to extreme weather events becoming more frequent and unpredictable. It makes clear that limiting climate change will require substantial and sustained reductions of GHG emissions.”

No, that’s not from Al Gore’s site.

Rather, BP, as in the company that probably has a gas station not too far from where you are sitting right now.

According to Andrea Abrahams, global director, BP Target Neutral, said: “BP is committed to a lower carbon transition. Our carbon project selection process ensures the integrity of carbon reduction projects and their contribution to the UN’s sustainable development goals.”

Turns out that BP has had its initiative to offset carbon in the atmosphere operating for 11 years.

The company is performing a variety of actions, including supplying more natural gas, increasing its renewable energy capacity, investing in start-up companies and new energy technologies, improving its operations, helping customers reduce their emissions, and calling for a price on carbon.

What’s more, BP Target Neutral buys carbon credits that meet ICROA’s (International Carbon Reduction & Offset Alliance) best practice standards as part of its efforts to offset carbon emissions.

It has just announced programs in India, Peru, China, and Mexico that are projected to reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by more than 2.5 million metric tons per year and provide more than 2 million people better access to energy, health, education, and employment opportunities, as well as protecting more than 98,842 acres of what they describe as “globally significant habitat.”

Odds are, the people at BP aren’t doing this out of the goodness of their collective hearts. What’s more, odds are better that their acceptance of the IPCC’s conclusion isn’t something that wasn’t vetted by their scientists.

Imagine.