GreenCred is a carbon footprinting scheme with a difference, designed to trigger a virtuous circle where savings in CO2 will be cumulative and mutually reinforcing. A systemic approach is urgently required to address our acute environmental crisis where existing proposals are piecemeal, confusing and sometimes contradictory. Here Daniel Scharf explains the scheme.

The Green Cred Scheme 

The Green Cred scheme is unique by involving the community in both its instigation and management. Green credibility would no longer be the responsibility of governments or the individual, and is a visible means of knowing that people in an area are pulling together and in the same direction.  It is also different by attempting to join all sectors of the community (individuals, households, school, church, councils and businesses)  in a collective effort by making green cred competitive and a higher level sticker a badge of honour.

Green Cred= Street Cred

The series of stickers which make GreenCred distinctive, are designed by a local group (probably the local primary school, but partnering by church and local businesses is encouraged) to be displayed by households close to the front door as a sign of the level of green credibility being achieved.  The initiating group is also responsible for the scheme of green credits based an extensive list of activities having good and bad environmental impacts, and the award and distribution of the stickers (from an access level to the highest level, which should equate to the 1 tonne household). Initiated and operated by the local community the GreenCred sticker will be a constant reminder to members of the household and a sign to the outside world of the achievements to date. GreenCred is street cred, and the harnessing of pester-power of the younger generations most affected by climate change will be a driver of change.

The support of other local groups and local businesses is important to extend the scheme to household unconnected to the local school. A separate series of stickers could be designed for businesses within the area, to reflect a firm's environmental achievements, accreditations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)  will make green credibility a competitive business within and between communities.

A national template for green credits and stickers is available but only as a fall back while community schemes are started.

Download the Green Credit form used in Drayton

There are a growing number of carbon footprinting schemes associated with specific recommendations or with carbon offsetting and/or trading. The apparent lack of progress suggests that an active ingredient is missing. While the Government tries to raise the profile of carbon footprinting,  GreenCred aims at community ownership, responsibility and credibility by using  locally designed stickers  to be displayed on domestic (and, as phase two, commercial premises), tee-shirts, mugs and even local produce.

For further information, comments or questions, please contact Daniel Scharf: pause.forthought@googlemail.com