The global sustainability and environmental management consultancy WSP Environment & Energy launched a personal carbon trading scheme in the UK two years ago, this scheme is going to be launched locally and internationally this year.

"In South Africa, we have had such a positive response to the launch of the scheme, that not only will the environment and energy division of WSP Group be participating in the scheme, but the scheme will also be made available to the consulting engineering side of the WSP operations," says WSP technical director Sean Doel    .

WSP’s personal carbon trading scheme, also known as Personal Action Carbon Trading (Pact), is the first scheme of its type in the world run for its staff. Mr Doel explained that WSP developed the scheme to make staff aware of their carbon footprint and to encourage them to take steps in their lives to reduce it.

The staff are tracked online on a quarterly basis, then at the end of the year the staff members that have used up over and above their allowance have to pay a penalty into the scheme and those that come in under their allowance get a bonus payment at the same rate. The carbon cap is set and the reward scheme pays a predetermined amount up to a set threshold.

"The South African staff's targets will be set at 7,25 t/y of carbon dioxide. This is higher than the UK staff target, but lower than the target set for our US colleagues. The range of targets reflects the differences in aspects, such as accessibility of public transport." Doel says.

He also stated that he scheme has successfully reduced the team’s carbon footprint by 10% last year and has been successful in changing staffs behaviour such as personal travel and holiday arrangements, they have also started their own green initiatives.

.During 2010, the scheme will also be made available to a select group of clients as part of the company's long-term plan of offering Pact to other organisations that are looking for ways to encourage and incentivise their staff to reduce their personal carbon footprints.

"It is our long-term plan and immediate priority that we engage every one of our 10 000 plus staff globally in thinking about what sustainability means to them personally and professionally," concludes Doel.

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