Stephen has always been interested in sustainability. It was in the mid-2000s that this interest began to manifest in a significant way when he worked in investment management. His company invested in one of the UK's first sustainable and organic food production businesses, showcasing his early commitment to environmentally conscious initiatives. In the last five years, his focus has shifted towards the carbon reduction market. Co-founding My Carbon Plan in 2019, the UK's only not-for-profit dedicated to supporting and funding new carbon sequestration schemes, laid the groundwork for Certified Carbon.
Certified Carbon’s goal is to “make it easy for all companies, particularly SMEs, to start acting on climate change”. To help achieve this the organisation offers three key services: The Certified Carbon Registry, Carbon Calculators and Estimators, and Certified Carbon Offsets. The Registry serves as a public platform, showcasing companies' climate change efforts, including their carbon footprints, reduction plans, and verified offsetting activities. The Registry also offers a convenient starting point for companies by publishing energy intensity metrics. These metrics, which are based on turnover and employee count, serve as a quick benchmark for companies seeking to understand their carbon footprint. The suite of free tools, including SECR and benchmarking calculators, assists companies in calculating their carbon footprints. Certified Carbon Offsets enables companies to purchase thoroughly vetted carbon offsets to voluntarily offset their carbon footprints, from projects in the UK and abroad. Driven by the principle of collective action, Certified Carbon offers its tools and insights free-of-charge and ensures they are openly accessible to all. This approach embodies Stephen’s belief in the power of collective efforts in addressing climate change.
Over the past few years, Stephen, through Certified Carbon, has assisted a diverse range of organisations to offset their carbon footprint. From micro-companies to large corporations employing thousands, and extending to public sector entities and charitable organisations, Stephen’s influence has been widespread. To maintain the credibility and effectiveness of the offset projects, Certified Carbon adopts a rigorous review process before accepting any carbon credits onto their platform. This involves a thorough examination of third-party reports, academic research papers, and interviews with project operators. Site visits are also conducted when necessary. This meticulous approach, coupled with ongoing monitoring, ensures the performance and efficacy of the schemes.
Despite the uncertainties in carbon offsetting, Certified Carbon takes a practical approach. Stephen notes, "Carbon offsetting oftentimes isn't a perfectly scientific activity, so we do our best to understand the ethos of the operators and the appropriateness of their approach, not just the accuracy of their calculations."
Stephen's vision for Certified Carbon is to enable as many companies as possible to start their journey to net-zero. It operates under the belief that ‘perfect shouldn't get in the way of good’, supporting immediate action over delayed perfection, and encourages everyone to act today to measure, reduce or offset their carbon footprint.
As a Chartered Accountant, Stephen's extensive experience working with and advising SMEs uniquely positions him to understand the challenges faced by UK companies in addressing climate change. His analytical mindset, honed through years of financial expertise, has enabled him to create a robust due diligence framework for assessing carbon offset projects.
Reflecting on his diverse experiences, Stephen shares, "In 20+ years of being a Chartered Accountant, I've been lucky to work with, invest in, and run many different businesses across many different sectors." His advice to others in the field echoes his own philosophy: "Remain open to new ideas, methods, and experiences, as you never know when they may come in useful in the future."