Because March is still the "green" month...
… we couldn’t help but dedicate a newsletter to this subject!
At the start of 2020, we signed a commitment with Lisbon to contribute – through our work, facilities and day-to-day life – to the reduction of our city’s carbon footprint.
We’ve not just started, but the fact that Lisbon is the 2020 Green Capital means we have had to implement and work on more initiatives to achieve this goal.
WHAT MEASURES HAVE WE TAKEN AT STARTUP LISBOA?
When we chose to #evoluir and signed a commitment with Lisbon, we had to take specific measures to make Startup Lisboa responsible in responding to the climate change threat. And some of them were:
◽️ Eliminate the use of single-use plastics;
◽️ To install LED lighting in all our buildings and places;
◽️ To set up solar energy production equipment in the Startup Lisboa building in the Hub Criativo do Beato (HCB);
◽️ To extend the bicycle parking spots available on Rua da Prata and in the HCB;
◽️To install reducing equipment in taps, showers, flushing cisterns and irrigation systems;
◽️ Increase, by 2030, the recycling of waste by 50% compared to 2020;
◽️ Encourage the discussion on corporate sustainability and promote the exchange of ideas on how to make the Startup Lisboa areas “greener”!
WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS WITH SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS!
We cannot and will not stop. Therefore, our Women4Climate Lisboa acceleration programme will still happen! Together with the Lisbon City Hall and Casa do Impacto, we are looking for women entrepreneurs with ideas or projects in the climate action and environmental sustainability areas. If you fit this profile, apply! To ensure the welfare of all those involved, we have had to make some changes to the programme so that it doesn’t require face-to-face participation, but as soon as we have news, we will update you. 😉
So that you have time to think about your idea or project, or even to give it that final boost, we have extended the application deadline to the 30th of April, which means you can still apply here!
But now everything seems to have changed. It’s March – the green month! – and the immediate priority has changed, gaining a much bigger profile than sustainability and climate change. It’s fair and legitimate, but we must not forget that this is a vital issue and that you can decide how we will look when this is all over.
AND WHAT IMPACT DOES THIS PANDEMIC HAVE ON CLIMATE CHANGE?
Planes, cars, factories, people. Everything is slowing down and reducing works and services around the world, meaning there is less demand for oil. Studies indicate that its demand could drop 10% (globally) and 20% (in China). And the same is happening with coal. According to an analysis by Carbon Brief, this fossil fuel suffered a 29% drop in production and a 36% drop in consumption.
Less air pollution?
There have also been sharp drops in pollution levels in China and Italy. If we add this to the fact that lower oil consumption also means a reduction in polluting gases, some studies estimate global CO2 emissions could drop by around 7% this year!
This is excellent news, but there is a risk. Some believe that when the pandemic is over, pollutant emissions may not only return, but increase due to plans and measures to boost the economy – and that these will override any fight against climate change. What does this mean? That we must not stop and just because we are staying at home doesn’t mean that we should forget this critical fight! We must continue to do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint.
WHAT CAN WE DO AT HOME TO CONTINUE PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT?
ECO (Economia Online) shared some measures advised by Quercus that we want to share with you! Being at home means that we are using more water, electricity and gas. Therefore, we must optimise this type of consumption: Don’t leave taps running, use the leftover water to water plants, and even put the washing machines on at the bi-hourly rate only.
Furthermore, being always at home also results in higher production of waste – now recycling is even more imperative! At the end of the day, we must not only pay attention to the number of products we buy at supermarkets but also doing it online, purchase season products and preferably of national origin. 😊