Global Skills is proud to announce that, with the support of EnergyLink Services, we have maintained our Climate Active Carbon Neutral Certification for a second consecutive year. Global Skills was the first, and remains the only, Australian Government funded employment service to hold Climate Active Carbon Neutral certification.

Global Skills’ Carbon neutrality covers our entire organisation’s operations including staff travel to and from our offices and all activities undertaken to deliver our employment services across Greater Sydney.

Administered by The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Climate Active is an ongoing partnership between the Australian Government and Australian businesses to drive voluntary climate action. Certification is awarded to Australian businesses who meet rigorous requirements to achieve net zero emissions, otherwise known as carbon neutrality.

Global Skills has credibly reduced our carbon emissions and offset any remaining emissions by investing in projects that reduce or remove emissions from the atmosphere. This year, we are investing in a cookstove project in Malawi, East Africa. This project deeply aligns with Global Skills sustainability values including gender equality and improved health and education outcomes. The project is outlined below.

Malawi Cookstove Project – Malawi, East Africa

Most people in Africa cook on a three-stone cooking fire which typically uses three large bundles of firewood per week and is a cause of the devastating deforestation in much of Africa. Ripple Africa has developed a simple fuel efficient cookstove which is referred to by locals as a Changu Changu Moto (Fast Fast Fire). The cookstove is made out of mud bricks and mud, and the householder is taught how to make it and maintain it. Each cookstove saves two bundles of wood per week and so far, Ripple Africa has provided 40,000 households with this simple technology helping save 80,000 bundles of wood per week, helping tackle deforestation.

Not only does the Changu Changu Moto save wood, but it also improves the health of women and children as it produces less smoke and reduces injuries from burns. According to the World Health Organisation, close to four million people die prematurely each year from illness attributable to smoke inhalation from inefficient cooking methods.

The improved burning efficiency of the stove means that time and money are saved, freeing up time to tend to other matters such as education, house maintenance and other activities.

Global Skills is proud of our contribution towards a low carbon future and remains committed to maintaining our carbon neutral status long-term.