Research reveals lack of emissions reduction targets for many FT 500 companies

The Ethical Corporation Institute has launched a new report on how the FT 500 are reporting their GHG emissions to stakeholders. The report is one of a collection of practical reports on climate change produced for the business community.

‘Corporate GHG emissions reporting 2008’ shows staggering inconsistencies in how companies calculate and verify their emissions, with the companies reporting to CDP5 using a total of 34 different public protocols or guidelines to report on their emissions.

Meanwhile interviews with stakeholders show that there’s an increasing demand for intra-industry sector standardisation of corporate emissions reporting. Investors in particular note the need to report corporate emissions performance in relation to corporate growth and financials, and for companies to use emissions intensity metrics appropriate for the nature of their operations.

The report gives detailed, practical overviews of the most common reporting protocols used by business; analyses the degree to which third-part auditors are employed to verify corporate emissions data; looks at the use of emissions intensity indictors by FT500 companies and focuses on the emissions reduction targets set by different corporations. Detailed accounts of exactly how individual corporations report their emissions intensity and their emission reduction targets are given in the appendix for the report.

Other climate related papers to be launched by the Ethical Corporation Institute in the coming weeks include ‘A practical guide to corporate emissions trading and offsetting’ and an accessible briefing designed to help UK companies to prepare for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) upcoming Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme.

Visit http://www.ethicalcorporationinstitute.com/reports/ghgreporting/ or contact Caryl Williams at Caryl.williams@ethicalcorp.com or +44 ( 0 ) 702 375 7554 for more details.

About the Ethical Corporation Institute - The Ethical Corporation Institute is the research arm of Ethical Corporation. It examines in more detail than is possible in a monthly magazine emerging themes, trends and best practice in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility. It produces high quality market intelligence reports, issue and regional management briefings, and occasional free papers on cutting edge corporate responsibility issues.