Hierbij wil ik jullie graag wijzen op een rapport dat deze week gepubliceerd is door de Carbon Disclosure Project (CPD) en ondersteund wordt door BT. Uit het rapport - The Carbon Chasm – blijkt dat ‘s werelds grootste bedrijven hun CO2-reductiedoelstellingen pas in 2089 zullen halen. Dit is helaas 39 jaar te laat om grote klimaatveranderingen te vermijden.
In onderstaand Engels persbericht kun je hier meer over lezen. Mocht je naar aanleiding van het bericht geïnteresseerd zijn in een interview met Chris Tuppen, Chief Sustainability Officer van BT, dan kun je contact met mij opnemen via onderstaande gegevens.
Groeten, Ellen
Ellen Bruens
Senior Account Executive
T +31 (0)20 3010980
E
ellen.bruens@edelman.com
World’s largest companies need to double the pace of CO2 reduction to avoid dangerous climate change, according to new report
Majority of firms have reduction goals to 2012 only, indicating need for government leadership
Based on current reduction targets, the world’s largest companies are on track to reach the scientifically-recommended level of greenhouse gas cuts by 2089 – 39 years too late to avoid dangerous climate change, reveals a research report – The Carbon Chasm – released today by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
It shows that the Global 100 are currently on track for an annual reduction of just 1.9% per annum which is below the 3.9% needed in order to cut emissions in developed economies by 80% in 2050. According to the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), developed economies must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050 in order to avoid dangerous climate change.
The research report – The Carbon Chasm – was conducted by the Carbon Disclosure Project, based on data reported to CDP in 2008*, and supported by BT, to analyse how the world’s largest 100 companies currently set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and whether they are sufficient to combat long term climate change.
Of those emissions reduction targets with a deadline, a majority (84%) are set up to and including 2012, which correlates with the final year of the Kyoto Protocol and suggests that businesses may be waiting to hear outcomes of the UN Conference of the Parties meeting in Copenhagen this December (COP-15) before they set longer term reduction goals.
BT’s Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Tuppen commented: “Most large companies now measure their carbon footprint and many have set carbon reduction targets. But how many of those targets are actually in line with the required reductions to prevent dangerous climate change? The research highlights a significant gap between what is needed from the corporate sector and what’s currently promised. We in the business world need to find a way of closing this carbon chasm.”
Paul Dickinson, CEO of the Carbon Disclosure Project, an independent not-for-profit organisation that holds the largest database of primary corporate climate change information in the world, said: “While 73% of Global 100 companies have set some form of reduction target, the majority need to be far more aggressive if they are to achieve the long-term reductions required. This is a time of huge opportunity for businesses to gain competitive advantage by reducing their own impact on the climate and benefit from associated cost savings, as well as sparking major innovation around the production of new, lower carbon products and services.”
Businesses cite various motivations for setting emissions reductions targets including identifying inefficiencies in corporate operations to achieve cost savings and stimulate innovation; minimising GHG associated risks whilst preparing for potential future regulation; and achieving competitive advantage. However, as motivations are largely driven by market forces rather than scientific recommendations, Global 100 targets often fail to deliver the required cuts.
The report highlights some recommendations to close the current carbon chasm:
· Every company should set a CO2-e reduction target.
· Targets must have clear baseline and target years.
· Governments need to agree clear medium and long-term reduction goals in Copenhagen to provide a framework for business to set required targets.
· Company targets should reflect the IPCC scientific recommendations and whilst absolute targets are preferred for clarity, aggressive intensity targets can also deliver.
The research also revealed a vast array of targets which presents challenges in assessing one against another. Greater harmonisation in setting targets in line with the science is required and this consistency will assist in revealing the leaders and the laggards in emissions reductions and ensure that major cuts are pursued in the short, medium and long term in order to permanently close the carbon chasm.
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Note to Editors
The report in full is available at
www.cdproject.net/carbon-chasm.asp.
* Companies report climate change data to CDP annually. This research report is based on the most recent data provided by 92% of the world’s 100 largest publicly quoted companies in 2008. CDP also conducted in-depth interviews with executives at 12 of the Global 100 companies on target setting.
About CDP (
www.cdproject.net)
The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an independent not-for-profit organisation holding the largest database of corporate climate change information in the world. More than 2,000 major corporations around the globe report their greenhouse gas emissions and the risks and opportunities posed by climate change through CDP. CDP gathers this data on behalf of 475 institutional investors, with combined assets under management in excess of $55 trillion, as well as public and private sector purchasing organisations and government bodies. Since its formation in 2000, CDP has become the gold standard for carbon disclosure methodology and process, providing essential climate change data to the global market place.
The Carbon Disclosure Project is a Registered Charity (no. 1122330). In the United States, CDP’s sponsor liaison is Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, which provides CDP with 501(c)3 charitable status.
About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended March 31, 2009, BT Group’s revenue was £21,390 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit
www.bt.com/aboutbt