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UK business alliance calls for mandatory carbon reporting

In an open letter to the UK Coalition Government, an alliance of businesses and politicians is calling for the introduction of mandatory carbon reporting for all large organisations.

Before the election, the Conservative Party committed to bringing forward to date for large organisations to start reporting carbon. Under the Climate Change Act, regulations for mandatory carbon reporting must be put forward by 2012 or the Government will have to answer to Parliament on why it has not happened.

“It is hard to see how the government’s green ambitions will be met without more robust measurement and reporting of carbon emissions,” says Peter Young, chair of the Aldersgate Group and author of the letter. “Carbon reporting is not a burden. It is about identifying cost savings and opportunities.”

Voluntary initiatives are having some success, with last year’s Carbon Disclosure Project revealing that just over half of the FTSE 350 disclosed their carbon emissions. But the ranks of those reporting their carbon emissions are not growing significantly.

The Aldersgate Group says a “clearer, stronger signal is needed now for the introduction of mandatory carbon reporting in the UK that is consistent with international standards”.

The call is being backed by some of the UK largest companies, including Aviva, Biffa, BT, Centrica, National Grid, Siemens, Scottish and Southern Energy, The Co-operative, Veolia, Willmott Dixon and environmental organisations WWF and RSPB.

For further information:
www.aldersgategroup.org.uk/

29 July 2010

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