Carbon neutral car park launched in London

Parking platform YourParkingSpace.co.uk has partnered with environmental consultants Circular Ecology, to announce the launch of what it claims is the world’s very first carbon neutral car park of its kind.

The car park, which is run on 100% renewable energy, is located at YourParkingSpace’s London based offices, Republic London, and is the first car park to fully offset carbon emissions from drivers parking at the premises, by finding an equivalent amount of carbon savings.

The initiative was made possible by assessing the average distance driven by motorists to and from the car park, as well as establishing emissions data for each vehicle in order to calculate the car park’s total carbon emissions.

The emissions will be offset with Gold Standard carbon credits, a World Wildlife Federation (WWF) founded scheme which ensures projects that aim to offset carbon emissions feature the highest levels of environmental integrity and contribute to sustainable development.

Aside from carbon savings, YourParkingSpace.co.uk and Circular Ecology have also arranged an array of community benefits including provision of clean cookstoves, clean water, renewable energy, as well ensuring four trees are planted for each tonne of carbon that is offset.

Harrison Woods, CEO at YourParkingSpace, commented: “Launching the world’s first carbon neutral car park is yet another example of our commitment to find innovative ways to help combat the global issue of climate change. Not only do we expect this to be just the first of many carbon neutral car park projects YourParkingSpace will be involved in, but also hope our project sets a precedent and standard for similar initiatives from governments and organisations to follow.”

Dr Craig Jones, director at Circular Ecology, added: “Carbon neutrality offers a mechanism of combatting climate issues, however until now this has been an untapped opportunity within the parking industry.

“Our trailblazing partnership with YourParkingSpace.co.uk will not only make a small difference to the environment, but also provide wider social benefits from the use of Gold Standard carbon credits and planting Mangrove trees, in countries ravished by deforestation.”

May Molteno, Ethics, Sustainability & Stakeholder Engagement at Trilogy Real Estate LLP, the owners of the premises, concluded: “At Republic we are delighted to be partnering with our tenants around tackling climate change, and it’s fantastic to see what YourParkingSpace is doing here. The threat that climate change poses to humanity is so grave that it is vital we all work to reduce our carbon emissions to as close to zero, as fast as possible. Where we can’t reduce, we must offset – and invest in carbon reduction projects - like tree planting, cleaner cookstove projects and rewilding.

“Taking responsibility in this way is the mark of a grown-up business and I am genuinely impressed that YourParkingSpace has worked to create a parking option here at Republic that is carbon neutral.”