Increasing attention is being paid to how Professional Service Providers (PSP) can help accelerate the transition to net zero emissions. PSPs are organizations, individuals or departments that sell a service based on their expertise in specific fields – for example, consultants, advisors, lawyers, advertising firms and PR firms. To date, PSPs’ direct emissions have tended to be lower than those of firms in other industries. However, because services have an enormous influence on the overall economy, advancing best practices for service providers represents a tremendous opportunity to make progress on climate goals.
Race to Zero and its Expert Peer Review Group (EPRG) convened a Professional Service Providers Working Group (PSPWG) in June 2023. This group developed a discussion paper on opportunities to align PSPs’ provision of services and advice with the 1.5C goal, and to explore emerging best practice regarding Serviced Emissions. ‘Serviced Emissions’ (Or ‘Advised’ or ‘Advertised Emissions’) is still a work-in-progress concept. These emissions are the greenhouse gas emissions arising from or impacted by client activities that are informed and/or enabled by the advice and/or services of a professional service provider.
This report, which follows from the consultation on the above discussion paper, sets out (a) the case for action for PSPs; (b) case examples; and (c) action areas that demonstrate ways in which PSPs can engage with Serviced Emissions.
