CSR: How UK businesses are pushing Government to take action

In an unusual move, a group of UK businesses are asking the Government to introduce mandatory carbon reporting for large companies by 2012.

Led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and CSR thought-leaders The Co-operative Group, 26 organisations, including businesses and not-for profits, signed an open letter to Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This letter was published today in the Financial Times.

All the businesses involved have already embraced carbon reporting as part of their own CSR strategies.

In their letter, they highlight the urgency of decarbonising the UK economy, whilst making the most of the new jobs and business opportunities that a ‘green’ economy will provide. They point out that requiring companies to report on carbon emissions in a way that is consistent with international standards will help make this aim a reality.

The signatories to the letter are also up front about why they want this. They, as organisations with a commitment to CSR, want to be recognised for it. They stress that requiring people to publicly report on carbon emissions will reward companies which are ‘taking a lead in the green economy’. It will also help businesses to manage and then cut their emissions.

The other benefit of such a system, which would provide comprehensive information, comparable across companies, would mean investors could easily identify the ‘greenest’ companies. There are large swathes of investors in the UK and globally, wishing to invest in low carbon businesses. Having a wealth of information of this nature would make their jobs much easier. It would also give a boost to those companies with CSR strategies which have focussed on carbon reduction.

Among the companies that signed the letter are some big global and national brands, including Aviva, Biffa and Lend Lease.

These organisations have already recognised the importance for their business of managing and reducing their carbon emissions. Aviva, for example, in its environmental policy, outlines the key risks the company faces. One of these is ‘non compliance with local environmental legislation/regulation by any part of the group’. The company wants to be ahead of the curve.

For waste management specialists Biffa, their environmental policy commits to publishing corporate environmental objectives and targets annually, and to publish the results. Their stated purpose for this is to ‘ensure continuous improvement’.

Lend Lease, a property company believes that being socially and environmentally responsible creates commercial value and reduces risk. This is a fact it has in common with all companies that take CSR seriously.

The signatories to the letter are asking the Secretary of State to commit to introducing mandatory carbon reporting on the same day she reports to Parliament on its benefits – 1 December 2010. Will she take up their challenge?

Original Source: www.justmeans.com/CSR-How-UK-businesses-are-pushing-Government-take-action/38576.html