Businesses are not keeping up with the growing carbon awareness of a general public disturbed by predictions of climate change, but more firms are starting to focus on the issue, according to an independent report from the Economist Intelligence Unit. A Change in the Climate, commissioned by UK Trade & Investment, reviews the corporate response to climate change.
Nearly one-third of companies surveyed (32%) do not monitor direct carbon emissions or indirect effects such as supply chain activities and have no plans to start doing so, according to the 634 executives globally who responded. About one in five companies (18%) simply measure energy efficiency, while a further 25% monitor some or all emissions across parts of the business. Just one in ten companies comprehensively monitors its entire carbon impact across the whole business.
Even so, there are signs of action. Nearly one in five companies have a scheme in place to reduce some of their carbon impact, and another 28% expect to have one up and running by 2010, although less than half (45%) have no plans at all. Change is also creeping into other aspects of the business: 35% of respondents' firms either have already reduced their air travel, or plan to do so, although more than half (54%) are resistant on that point. Similarly, while only 18% of respondents said their firms use low-emission vehicles today, another 26% plan to introduce them within three years. And 40% either already use renewable energy or intend to do so within three years.
See full Press Release.
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