Thanks for the welcome. As you suggested I raised this with Climate Active and received their reply (below) which confirms that AGL is not in fact certified carbon neutral, other than for their opt-in program. As I mentioned, they cannot be, since they produce very little renewable energy compared to their coal-based and gas energy products. Given the information from Climate Active, I really think you should re-visit your advice about AGL. They are Australia’s worst polluter by far.
(reply from Climate Active)
Hi Barry
Thank you for your enquiry.
We are always keen to hear from our stakeholders and the public about their thoughts on businesses who are going through the process of working towards better climate action.
The company AGL is not certified as a carbon neutral organisation with Climate Active, but two of their products are certified:
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opt-in gas supplied to AGL customers, and
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opt-in electricity for residential, small business and commercial and industrial AGL customers.
To achieve this certification, AGL has gone through the same rigorous process we require of all our Members seeking a carbon neutral claim through Climate Active. The Standard which underpins Climate Active certification is based on international standards tailored to Australia. It is reviewed and improved regularly to ensure its integrity and that it remains aligned with best practice.
While we won’t speak on behalf of AGL, they have publically committed to a target of net zero emissions by 2050, and we are pleased they are taking steps to measure and reduce their emissions – including seeking certification through Climate Active for their electricity and gas products.
Last week we saw a media report in which AGL reported a significant uptake of customers looking for carbon neutral options, with more than 50,000 services now on AGL’s certified carbon neutral electricity and gas products. It is very clear the demand is there from consumers for more sustainable products, with many choosing the opt-in option to offset their own carbon footprint. AGL is taking steps to meet this demand.
Further information, as well as the public disclosure statements about AGL’s certified products, is available from our website: https://www.climateactive.org.au/buy-climate-active/certified-members/agl
Regards
Jennifer on behalf of the Climate Active Team
