FYI

Havas launches climate change initiative

Havas Group has announced the launch of the Climate Solidarity Initiative, a scheme for offsetting the carbon footprint created by producing campaigns.

The announcement:

Through its agencies Havas Paris, Havas Events and BETC, Havas Group announces the launch of the Climate Solidarity Initiative, a scheme for offsetting the carbon footprint created by producing campaigns (TV & radio, print, digital and events) for clients. The scheme, launched during the Global Climate Action Summit currently taking place in San Francisco, aims to fund solidarity-based projects addressing climate issues.

The introduction of this concrete measure bears eloquent witness to the Group’s engagement with the Common Ground initiative and combating climate change, one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Climate Solidarity Initiative is both groundbreaking and exclusive. Based on a methodology defined by specialist carbon strategy consultants Carbone 4, it establishes a correlation between the total cost of a production and its carbon footprint.

Our agencies then propose to include in the overall production budget a financial contribution to offset the carbon footprint calculated by this ratio, which represents a percentage of the amount of technical costs incurred. The contribution will figure as a distinct item in the overall quote for the service, and will represent around 0.2% of the total. In return, clients will receive a carbon offset certificate to incorporate into their own carbon balance.

The funds collected will be invested in VCS (Verified Carbon Standard) accredited projects aimed at fighting climate change and preserving ecosystems (reforestation, forest conservation, agroforestry) in Peru (St Martin Ecosphere) and in France, managed by the social enterprise Pur Projet. In just over a year, a pilot phase run by the group’s French agency BETC has already collected more than €60 thousand in funds.

Climate change is a challenge for society, for our clients, and also for the advertising industry,” explains Yannick Bolloré, Havas Group CEO. “We are proud to announce real measures, in partnership with our clients, to take concrete action to fight climate change. This pioneering initiative will gradually be adopted across the entire Havas Group worldwide.”

From San Francisco, Nathalie Pons, Partner and Head of CSR at Havas Paris, explains: “Companies have come to realize that they must play an active role in society in response to consumers’ and citizens’ expectations. Havas Group is living up to its responsibilities by developing an initiative that goes right to the heart of its business. We are also delighted to partner with the Net Zéro Initiative, a leading network of French companies (ENGIE, EDF, L’Oréal, RATP, BPCE) working towards an ambitious definition of carbon neutrality in France.”

Source: Havas press release

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