Bird partners with Carbone 4 to contribute to carbon neutrality in Paris

Bird, the micromobility company, has partnered with Carbone 4, the independent consultancy firm specialising in low carbon strategy and adaptation to climate change, to pledge that it will become the first transportation company to actively contribute to climate neutrality in Paris from 2020. Bird is working with Carbone 4 to implement and execute a comprehensive approach to carbon neutrality, promoting accountability and transparency in the industry. 

Bird’s approach to carbon neutrality will follow the guidelines in the Net Zero Initiative, an effort from Carbone 4 to ensure corporate carbon neutrality is in line with scientifically supported targets. 

This effort is said to be part of Bird’s ongoing commitment to help cities decarbonise and reduce harmful emissions. Bird has already launched a fleet of cargo bikes and electric vans to collect its vehicles for charging and maintenance and has a number of upcoming initiatives that will help it achieve this industry first goal.

Travis VanderZanden, Founder and CEO of Bird, said:  “Our mission is to make cities more liveable by helping to reduce car trips. We are inspired by Paris’ ambitious decarbonisation goals, and are committed to doing our part to help the city become a global model of sustainability. Words are not enough, we all must take bold action to reduce carbon emissions, and the collaboration with Carbone 4 will help Bird accelerate and validate our progress while ensuring transparency of our efforts.” 

Renaud Bettin, Manager of the Neutrality Practice of Carbone 4, added: “Electric micromobility is remarkably efficient, and, as our previous research showed, could make up a fifth of all trips in Paris by 2030 if appropriate measures are put in place to develop the potential of these innovative mobility solutions. However, companies must be intentional to ensure shared micromobility has a positive climate impact. More precisely, the urgency of the climate crisis implores all operators to take action to reduce lifecycle emissions. This is why we are pleased to work with Bird to make an active contribution to carbon neutrality in a way that is rigorous and transparent and in accordance with the goals of the City of Paris.”

In 2019 Carbone 4 and Bird published a White Paper on the role that shared light electric vehicles such as e-scooters can play in decarbonising cities, with a case study on the city of Paris. The White Paper presented a framework for the roles and responsibilities of operators and cities in bringing about a low-carbon urban transport future.

This new partnership will see Carbone 4 support Bird to make an active contribution to climate neutrality by implementing the Net Zero Initiative framework: identifying strategies to minimise emissions across its operations and supply chain in a full lifecycle perspective (e.g., designing and operating vehicles to last up to 36 months), contributing to carbon emissions reductions (e.g., developing low-carbon services, purchasing verified carbon offsets), and ultimately supporting the development of carbon sinks. Carbone 4 and Bird will release an annual progress report, and hope to set a new standard for the industry.