Expanding Energy Management to include Climate Issues
Benefits synergies of ISO 50001 and Emission Reduction Targets
Now more than ever, companies’ competitiveness and future security require lean processes and forward-looking management. Expanding existing energy and environmental management systems to include climate issues helps to strategically develop the company and identify risks at an early stage. In this interview, our expert Johannes Höpfner and our expert Seyma Evli explain how this change can be achieved pragmatically and what opportunities arise from it.
Why should companies expand their existing energy management system to include climate issues – and why now?
Johannes Höpfner: Even if other issues are currently taking center stage politically, global warming is progressing inexorably and we are heading towards an irreversible overshoot of the 1.5°C target [1]. The responsibility to act is now. On a positive note, many companies have already set themselves emission reduction targets and taken initial steps. However, the integration of the topic into corporate structures has not yet progressed far in practice. For us, this is the next logical step in anchoring medium and long-term goals throughout the organization and implementing actions effectively.
Seyma Evli: Companies are also increasingly affected by climate change themselves, which has an impact on the business model, the supply chain and the availability of raw materials. Integrated climate management helps companies to identify risks at an early stage and become more resilient.
Climate risk analysis is a central component. What does this mean in concrete terms for energy managers and how does this process differ from the classic risk approach in ISO 50001?
Seyma Evli: Climate risk analysis means that companies systematically examine which physical and transitory risks arise from climate change and how they affect their own value creation. For energy management, this means looking not only at operational risks such as supply bottlenecks or energy prices, but also at the effects of extreme weather on power plants or transport routes and regulatory changes to CO₂-intensive energy sources.
In contrast to ISO 50001, which focuses on energy efficiency, the climate risk analysis looks at the entire business model – including the supply chain, location dependencies and stakeholder expectations – and requires a long-term strategic perspective over 10, 20 or more years.
Your seminar is also about participation and empowerment – how can you activate employees and managers for the topic of climate and get them on board?
Johannes Höpfner: Reservations and skepticism from the workforce are to be expected, especially at the beginning of the expansion of the management system. Comments such as “There’s no point in what we’re doing here anyway” or “Even more data that we have to collect and process” are inevitable. It is important to involve and inform the workforce right from the start and to take their fears and reservations seriously.
Seyma Evli: For climate management to be effective in the organization, it requires clarity, attitude and responsibility at all levels. People get involved when they understand why it is important – for the company, for society and for them personally. This is where managers play a particularly key role: they can provide impetus that can move people or the entire company.
Johannes Höpfner: We have had very good experiences with workshops that involve different stakeholder groups in the company and that we have broken down complex topics such as climate protection and decarbonization into practical task packages. This makes “big” topics more tangible and allows employees to contribute their perspective.
Data plays an important role in energy and emission reduction targets and in measuring progress. What are the challenges of integrating climate data and what are your tips for keeping it from becoming too complex?
Johannes Höpfner: The initial focus should be on the company’s own emissions, i.e. Scope 1 and 2. Data from energy management and the merchandise management system can be used for this. For Scope 3 emissions, a materiality analysis is useful in order to concentrate data collection on the relevant areas.
For CO2 balances of products, we recommend expanding existing databases and setting up additional measuring points in order to be able to allocate consumption in a targeted manner. When expanding the management system, companies should focus more on the advantages of digitalization in order to professionalize and simplify data management.
Seyma Evli: Artificial intelligence will offer companies additional options and make management systems leaner and smarter. But the key is data quality – without good data, there is no good AI model. That is why the foundations must first be laid. Furthermore, artificial intelligence is no substitute for strategic responsibility. It provides support, but decisions still have to be made by people.
In your opinion, what are the most important steps for companies that want to move from energy management to an integrated climate and energy management system?
Seyma Evli: The most important first step is to get started! Companies should compile their CO2 data, processes and climate risks and ask themselves: Where do we stand and where do we want to go? This includes the medium and long-term corporate goals that need to be achieved. Based on this, structures can be adapted and priorities set. It is important not to be overwhelmed by the challenges and wait for the perfect solution, but to start with what is there. Everything else develops step by step.
Johannes Höpfner: In my experience, success stands and falls with the commitment of the company management and good internal communication. Regular coordination between top management and the climate management team as well as relevant specialist departments must be ensured. If those responsible regularly take time to look at the management system from a bird’s eye view and develop it further in a targeted manner, the tasks will not get lost in day-to-day business.
The interview was conducted by Mareike Hoffmann
Event Tip
In the one-day seminar of the GUTcert Academy, you will learn how you can expand your existing management system into a climate management system. The program is rounded off with practical tips and examples and a moderated exchange of experiences between the participants.
Have you become curious? We look forward to hearing from you!
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