Direct impacts on the environment

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Further to the results of the 2006 and 2008 carbon footprint assessments realized on the Paris region scope (i.e. more than 500 000m ²), the Group decided to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
Three cross-functional groups were created to work on energy, transport and purchases and to start actions with which some have already been organized, such as the 15 % reduction of energy consumptions over 3 years or still the choice of the train for any lower movement at 3:30 am.
Others are going to continue in 2009: new actions of energy savings in buildings, business travail plan, launch of a site of car sharing, project on the purchases of paper...

As a supplement to these measures, the Sustainable development committee of Crédit Agricole S.A. decided to offset carbon dioxide emissions regarding the Group’s sites in the Paris region.

In order to do this, Crédit Agricole has adopted the clean development mechanisms established under the Kyoto protocol and has chosen to invest in carbon certificates from a biomass plant in Brazil. It was therefore able to offset carbon dioxide emissions of 15,000 tonnes by buying these certificates. The certificates were bought from a carbon offsetter and deposited into an account initially opened on the French national registry (SERINGAS). In order to avoid reselling, the certificates were cancelled directly in this account. The numbered certificates bought therefore cannot go back onto the international quota trading market*.

Controlling water and energy consumption

Since 2005, the Group has conducted a review of water and energy consumption at its properties in the Paris region concerning four divisions, managed by Crédit Agricole Immobilier and occupied by the Group, representing a total area of 483,000 m².
In 2008, the Group's total energy consumption at these sites was more than 225 kWh per m². Total greenhouse gas emissions relating to energy usage came to just under 7,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Moreover, the scope of energy and water consumptions reporting was extended in 2008 on a test basis to Emporiki bank the Greek subsidiary (see Environmental indicators)

Adopting recycling practices

The Group endeavours to support responsible waste treatment by encouraging recycling of items such as batteries, ink cartridges, paper and computers, at all Group’s Paris region premises.
A total of 550 kg of batteries and 9,185 kg of ink cartridges were collected in 2008 thanks to the recycling system implemented since 2006.

The paper collection system - which was introduced at sites in the Paris region in 2007 - began with office waste bins allowing for paper to be separated from other waste and a programme to raise employee awareness about selective sorting.
Lastly, SILCA¹ launched a system for recycling obsolete equipment in conjunction with Emmaüs².
More than 1,900 tons of paper were collected and recycled in 2008, thanks to the paper recycling facilities put in place in Group’s Paris region buildings.
Within the framework of the system for the recycling of obsolete IT equipment launched by SILCA in 2007, more than 3,500 monitors and 2,000 central units were collected in 2008.

Raising employee awareness

As action needs support and support needs understanding, the Group has taken steps to raise the awareness of its employees about sustainable development. For example, in 2007 it showed them the Al Gore documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" about climate change. During the 2008 sustainable development week, a programme to raise the awareness of
Crédit Agricole S.A. assistants was implemented in collaboration with ADEME, the French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management. In 2009, an internal meeting on the climate change was proposed to the Group’s employees located on the Paris region sites.