COP26 Blog:"I want to help to make carbon offsets more impactful"

COP 26 - a global conference that tackles the climate crisis - is coming to Glasgow in November 2021. Named the “26th session of the Conference of the Parties” – shortened to COP26 - the conference is a vital coming together of countries and actors to discuss how climate change will be tackled and to agree global and national targets.

Our COP26 blog series profiles inspirational voices from across ECCI's community of climate experts, researchers, students and practitioners, in the lead up to the conference.

Here we hear from Hong Kong based logistics expert and Carbon Management MSc graduate, Jana Schebera, who embarked on the course to move into sustainability consulting for the logistics industry.

Hi Jana. Please introduce yourself and your work.

My name is Jana Schebera, I am a graduate of the MSc of Carbon Management course which I started online in 2019. Right now, I’m eagerly awaiting the results of my dissertation.

My current role is with JAS Logistics where I am working as Director Customer Solutions of the Asia-Pacific Region located in Hong Kong. In this position, I am working with larger customers that have complex supply chains and help them finding solutions to optimize their logistics by redesigning processes, rethinking their order flows to save time, money and emissions making use of the latest logistics technology and software.

My dissertation focus was on price dynamics in the voluntary carbon offset market and its impact on public institutions such as the City of Edinburgh Council and their strategies towards emissions residuals – I worked on this in close collaboration with ECCI's Clare Wharmby, who provided the Council’s net zero plan 2030 and gave a lot of additional guidance.

Find out more about ECCI's work with the City of Edinburgh Council.

Tell us about your background.

I’m originally from Germany but have spent the better part of my career so far in Asia working in the logistics industry. I have worked in various sales related roles in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, running the China operation as Managing Director of Tigers Logistics before it was taken over by JAS earlier this year.

I have a passion for the environment and a great interest in the challenge of climate change and what to do about it, that’s why I have taken the course and intend to shift my career into the direction of sustainability consulting for the logistics industry.

Tell us about your hopes for the conference.

I hoping that a breakthrough will be achieved in areas such as carbon taxing.

I also hope that global standards for carbon offsetting will be set and a framework will be put in place on how National Determined Contributions and carbon offsets will be able to coexist.

I’m also hoping for an agreement on a possible carbon border tax and generally more ambitious and binding climate goals for the international community.

What’s your ultimate goal?

Carbon offsets can be a very powerful part of the solution to the climate crisis, I want to help to make offsets more impactful.

They can be a great tool to monetize ecosystem services and pay for externalities that are currently come without a price tag.

My ultimate goal is for the world to avert the climate crisis and being of help in this ultimate goal, to create a sustainable economy and a new form of logistics that is not living off the environment but manages a peaceful co-existence while at the same time reaching the UN sustainable development goals.

What's your views on ECCI, Scotland and Edinburgh’s role at COP26?

I found ECCI to be a very progressive institution guiding Scotland to the forefront of the fight against climate change, the COP26 is an excellent opportunity to showcase Scotland and the local initiatives that have been started here.

COP26 and ECCI

Find out more about how ECCI is involved with COP26 and keep up to date with the latest events, news and opportunities via the University's Social Responsibility and Sustainability team and ECCI events page.