The Latest on Our Carbon Reduction and Climate Action Projects

At NorthStar, we believe that protecting the long-term future of our planet isn’t just important – it’s essential. That’s why we take meaningful steps to reduce our environmental impact and support the planet.

We’re proud to have partnered with Ecologi, a pioneering UK-based social enterprise on a mission to help businesses like ours drive real, measurable climate action. Ecologi supports some of the world’s most effective climate solutions, from reforestation to cutting-edge carbon reduction projects. Since launching, they’ve planted over 80 million trees and funded projects that have prevented more than 3 million tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.

Through our NorthStar Climate Action Commitment, we actively reduce our environmental impact by offsetting a significant portion of our carbon footprint. Each month, we fund a range of high-impact climate initiatives and support the planting of new trees in our own NorthStar company forest. We achieve this commitment in three key ways:

• Employee Carbon Footprint Offset Scheme. Every member of our team is climate friendly. This means we offset a significant proportion of our carbon footprint, including emissions from all business activities as well as employees’ homes, personal travel, holidays, food, hobbies and more.
• Business Travel Reduction & Offset Scheme. We are committed to minimising business travel wherever possible but some business trips are unavoidable. That’s why we offset our business travel by planting trees and financing carbon reduction projects around the world.
• Planting Trees & Funding Climate Projects. We help fund the world’s best climate crisis solutions. Every month we help finance a number of climate action projects and contribute funding to ensure the planting of groves of trees in our company forest.

Since we started our partnership with Ecologi, we have funded the planting of 625 trees, offset 49.31 tonnes of carbon and helped fund numerous climate action projects.

Here are a few of the climate action projects we have helped fund in recent months:

Forest restoration in Kenya

The forest restoration initiative in Kenya focuses on revitalising the Mau Region’s degraded forests. Spanning six distinct areas across 5,700 hectares, the project aims to restore these vital ecosystems, which are crucial for biodiversity and local communities. By reintroducing native tree species and promoting sustainable land-use practices, the initiative seeks to enhance carbon sequestration, improve water resources, and support wildlife habitats.​

This community-driven effort not only addresses environmental concerns but also contributes to socio-economic development. Aligning with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, the project endeavours to alleviate poverty, ensure food security, and promote sustainable economic growth. Through active participation, local communities gain employment opportunities and develop skills in conservation, fostering a sense of stewardship over their natural environment.

Mangrove planting in Irregele, Mozambique

The mangrove restoration project in Irregele Milato, Mozambique, focuses on revitalising coastal wetlands, which are crucial ecosystems found along coastlines worldwide. These wetlands serve as nurseries for fish, feeding grounds for migratory birds, natural barriers against storm surges, and filtration systems that enhance water quality and recharge aquifers. Notably, they sequester substantial amounts of carbon, with mangrove soils alone potentially holding over 22 billion tons – equivalent to more than two years of global emissions.

By restoring these mangrove forests, the project not only combats climate change but also supports local communities by promoting sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities. This initiative aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including ending poverty, ensuring food security, promoting well-being, achieving gender equality, and taking urgent action to combat climate change.

Turning waste biogas into electricity in Thailand

In Bangkok, Thailand, the Papop Biogas and Renewable Energy project is transforming organic waste management by utilising industrial-scale anaerobic digesters. These sealed tanks facilitate the decomposition of organic materials, capturing methane emissions to produce biogas, a renewable energy source and digestate, a nutrient-rich fertiliser. This innovative process not only reduces harmful methane emissions but also generates sustainable energy, contributing to a cleaner environment.

Aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including ensuring access to affordable and clean energy and taking urgent action to combat climate change, this project exemplifies how technological advancements can address environmental challenges. By converting waste into valuable resources, it supports sustainable economic growth and promotes environmental stewardship in the region.

Repairing water boreholes in Eritrea

In Eritrea’s Zoba Debub district, access to clean water is a significant challenge, with only 19% of the population having nearby sources. Many communities rely on distant or contaminated water supplies, leading to health risks and substantial time spent collecting water. Prolonged droughts exacerbate this crisis, making water scarcity the second leading cause of death and disability in the country. ​

The Zoba Debub Community Boreholes project aims to address this issue by rehabilitating existing boreholes, providing hundreds of households with long-term access to safe drinking water. By restoring these water points, the project reduces the need for communities to boil water using wood fuel, thereby decreasing carbon emissions from wood combustion. This initiative not only improves public health but also contributes to environmental sustainability by mitigating deforestation and lowering CO₂ emissions.

Planting forest gardens in Tanzania

The ‘Forest Gardens in Tanzania’ initiative is transforming the lives of local farmers by converting degraded lands into sustainable forest gardens. Launched in May 2022, this two-year project aims to plant over 1.8 million trees by December 2023, involving around 600 farmers in the Iringa region. These forest gardens not only revitalise the landscape but also create new business and market opportunities, enabling farmers to diversify their income and become more resilient to climate change.

The project aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including ending poverty, promoting sustainable economic growth, and combating climate change. By establishing forest gardens, farmers gain a protected and productive land area to support their families, fostering long-term environmental and economic benefits.

To view more details about our partnership with Ecologi and how we are helping fund tree planting and carbon reduction projects, please view our Ecologi profile.

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