Seven Steps to Success in a Low Carbon Business Environment

The Carbon Disclosure Project is about to complete it's massive benchmarking project, I understand they will release their report on 21 September.  What I find most interesting is the criterea they use to judge whether a company is likely to suceed in a " low carbon business environment".

They will use 7 criterea in ther upcoming report:

1. Offer transparency about their climate change activities and performance: Companies must report their emissions data and climate change strategies. Without transparency, they cannot be classed as high performers.

2. Demonstrate low-carbon intensity: Companies that are running the most carbon efficient operations demonstrate good carbon management and will be best positioned as we move to a low-carbon economy.

3. Establish and achieve emissions reductions plans: High-performing companies must implement emissions reductions plans and should detail any carbon cuts they have achieved so far and how they intend to continue to achieve their reductions. They should also publish forecasts for emissions and energy use.

4. Monitor and manage the evolving climate change agenda by engaging positively with policy makers: Leading companies are looking to policy makers for long-term regulatory incentives to enable them to make the necessary changes to their business to achieve a low-carbon economy.

5. Implement innovative ideas to capitalize on climate change opportunities and demonstrate good management of risks: The potential opportunities for some companies are enormous -- the provision of low-carbon technologies, products and services will generate large revenue streams for the companies who spot the opportunities early.

6. Demonstrate board-level involvement in climate change strategies: Companies that have appointed a board member to oversee climate change impacts demonstrate a clear understanding of the importance of the issue.

7. Drive the business towards climate change mitigation by offering incentives, often financial, to employees for individual management of climate initiatives: More and more companies are now using incentives to encourage behavior change amongst employees, and as engagement regarding climate change increases, senior management is finding that such schemes also enhance staff recruitment and retention.


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