Dozens of governments across North America are working together to reduce carbon emissions. Twenty-four U.S. states (plus the District of Columbia) have adopted emissions targets for greenhouse gases (GHG). Another thirty-six states and Washington, D.C., have implemented clean vehicle policies for a low-carbon fuel standard.
Do you want to get involved in the carbon reduction movement but feel somewhat out of your depth? Fortunately, you don’t need to be a big organization to make a big impact on carbon emissions. As long as you implement new ways to leverage data, you can work to reduce carbon emissions with small, sustainable changes.
Before we dive into the details, let’s zoom out and look at the larger picture.
The importance of measuring carbon emissions in government
Measuring the extent of your carbon emissions provides a target for reducing your GHG production. It also creates a benchmark for your current GHG values, which means stakeholders of any capacity can track your progress over time.
With the right tools, platforms, and carbon solutions by your side, you can successfully:
- Monitor emissions and attribute them to different departments. Knowing which department emits the most carbon can help you narrow down strategies for specific groups.
- Keep an eye on progress and identify areas for improvement. If you want to reduce your carbon emissions by 50% in 2035, you will need to reduce your footprint by roughly 4% per year.
- Create robust reports for internal teams and external audiences. The more informed your stakeholders are, the more supportive they’ll likely be.
Let’s look at three data-driven strategies for reducing your carbon emissions.
Data-driven strategies for carbon emissions reduction
The most effective way to reduce government carbon emissions is to tap into your data streams. This requires at least three combined strategies.
1. Purchase fleet tracking tools
Fleet tracking tools can help you make better decisions about your vehicles, emissions, and fuel liability. With the help of route planning tools and GPS trackers, you can also slash costs and reduce fuel consumption rates.
About 20% of all carbon emissions come from burning fossil fuels. Optimizing your driving routes ensures that you burn less fuel and therefore, produce less carbon. Also, 96% of companies using fleet management software report reduced fuel costs by up to 40%. On a monthly gas budget of $1,000, this could be a savings of $400.
2. Begin tracking your SCOPE 3 emissions
Studies show that 80% to 95% of an organization’s carbon emissions stem from third-party sources. These include suppliers, partners, and vendors assisting your organization with transportation or logistics.
Reducing your SCOPE 3 emissions may be difficult unless you know the numbers you’re facing. Fortunately, you can use a simple process to calculate rough estimates and determine the next steps for each supplier.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Determine categories: Look at each vendor's size, influence, and risk to determine its relevance to your SCOPE 3 calculations.
- Estimate emissions: Some organizations provide estimated emissions reports, while others require you to crunch numbers on your own.
- Improve methods: Find ways to make your estimates more accurate with better data or different calculations.
If your third-party partners don’t align with your emissions expectations, you can start looking for alternatives with Sourcewell’s cooperative purchasing.
3. Lean into machine learning and data analytics
Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms leverage the power of predictive data in your emissions calculations. They generate insights with fewer human errors and answer questions like, “What would happen if we did this?”
With suppliers like Gordian/VFA, Inc., for example, you can perform green building assessments, monitor energy output, and design preventive maintenance plans for carbon emissions. This provides the groundwork for building a more robust plan and striving for a zero-emissions future.
Acquiring platforms, tools, and software with Sourcewell
Reducing your organization’s carbon emissions doesn’t have to be complicated—the proper use of data can bring you one step closer to your goals. However, if you need help capturing, observing, and reporting on your progress, you can rely on the team at Sourcewell to find competitive cooperative contracts.
It works with suppliers throughout North America to source cooperative contracts for state and local organizations. It also provides various solutions for tracking carbon emissions data, including:
- Fleet management tools
- Electric vehicle equipment
- GPS/AVL fleet telematics solutions
- Management consulting on energy, environment, and data science
- Sustainable transportation services
You can log into Sourcewell today to view relevant contracts for your organization.
By leveraging data and telematics, a fleet manager can identify areas for sustainability improvement by reducing a fleet's energy consumption and carbon emissions. Sourcewell contracts ensure that government entities can take the first step in supporting these initiatives. See how Sourcewell can help with your cooperative purchasing.
