TT Club and BSI have partnered for a number of years, particularly around the topic of supply chain security. BSI deliver environmental, health and safety, security and sustainability services to the industry, and have become a key partner for TT Club in the context of the ESG toolkit.

The Paris Agreement was signed by governments of over 190 nations in 2015, who agreed to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees C and attempt to limit it to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels. The agreement also extended the scope of reduction commitments to include emissions from international shipping and aviation. It mandated the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to develop and implement binding measures to achieve comparable reductions in these modes of transport.

The quest of net zero is not an independent goal. It is fundamentally connected to the broader framework set out by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, targeting and delivering on your net zero goals contributes both directly and indirectly to the overall achievement of the SDGs.

As a result of escalating concerns over the consequences of global climate change, various regulatory frameworks have emerged. As scientific consensus solidifies around the human influence on rising temperatures, policymakers worldwide are facing an urgent mandate to design and implement measures that curtail carbon emissions, promote sustainable practices, and safeguard vulnerable ecosystems.

Modern slavery, also known as contemporary slavery, refers to various forms of exploitation and coerced labour, despite being legally abolished in most countries. This violation of human rights involves the control and ownership of individuals through various means, often depriving them of their freedom, dignity, and basic rights.

In brief, carbon offsetting involves compensating for emissions by supporting external projects, while carbon capture is about capturing and managing emissions directly from your own operations. Both approaches play a role in reducing a company's overall carbon impact, but they target emissions at different stages of the carbon lifecycle.

Sustainability reporting and accountability is an important component of climate change mitigation strategy. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported in 2018 that industry is globally responsible for 21% of direct greenhouse gas emissions, one of the largest contributors measured. As societies plan the journey to net zero, it is essential for governments, investors and consumers understand how business contributes to emissions so that they can make informed decisions about how to govern, invest and consume. For this to happen, sustainability reporting must be standardised and accurate.

Science-based targets initiative (SBTi) are specific, measurable goals that organizations set to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the latest climate science and the global effort to limit global warming. These targets are designed to ensure that emission reduction efforts are consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

As nations around the globe ramp up action their against climate change and move their economies towards net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, new practices, opportunities and indeed challenges are likely to arise for their respective ports and logistics operations. However, every journey will be unique, knowing what to consider and where to start will be starkly different for a freight forwarder versus a port or container terminal.