INFORM Carbon Reduction
COPENHAGEN PREVIEW REGULATION
What needs
Ruddock reveals final CRC details
to happen at
The Government has announced Investment that takes place in the
COP15...
the final details of the Carbon next few decades will have a pro-
Reduction Commitment, which is found effect on the climate in the
due to start next April. second half of this century and in
On 7 December, worldwide Energy and climate change min- the next.
heads of state will meet for a ister, Joan Ruddock, announced “The CRC Energy Efficiency
UN summit in Copenhagen to the final details of the plan after Scheme will help organisations to
thrash out a post-2012 global finishing a consultation with busi- become more energy efficient, to
deal to tackle emissions. Here ness and other organisations save significant sums of money on
is your guide to the issues that affected. The scheme also has a fuel bills, and to show customers,
will be on the table: new name – the CRC Energy Retail savings: Marks & Spencer will clients and competitors that their
Efficiency Scheme – to reflect the
be taking part in the CRC scheme
organisation is a leader in tackling
Targets The deal will set a goal fact that its main focus is to cut climate change.”
for limiting a global tempera- power use. organisations “taking action early” The scheme targets organisa-
ture rise of 2
o
C, with industri- All large energy users, from to improve energy efficiency. tions’ annual half hourly metered
alised nations committing to an government departments to big- Organisations that use on-site (HHM) electricity use, if that is at
80% cut in emissions by 2050, business, have to take part in the renewable energy, like wind tur- least 6,000 megawatt hours (MWh)
and cuts of between 25% and scheme from 1 April next year. bines or solar panels, by publish- they will qualify for the scheme –
40% by 2020 Ruddock said that following ing the increased carbon savings or typically those that spend
“extensive consultation with busi- from such measures will get £500,000 a year on electricity.
Low-carbon growth All nations nesses and trade bodies”, the “recognition” under the CRC. The Environment Agency will
will need to commit to low-car- Department of Energy and Ruddock said: “The UK is lead- publish the qualification and regis-
bon growth plans. The likes of Climate Change (DECC) has ing the way in tackling climate tration guidance for potential
China and India have already made some improvements to the change and in the move to a low CRC participants this month.
made positive noises on clean scheme. These include allowing carbon economy.
energy and climate action organisations to only report emis- “Organisations and the public
sions in the first year (2010/11), sector must play a central role
Adaptation This is crucial. It is then in following years they will including all government depart-
thought that the industrialised have to buy allowances matching ments, regardless of size. Large
world will need to plough $4B their emissions from energy use organisations have huge potential
a year, between 2010 and 2012, and then surrender them by the to achieve cost-effective energy The CRC was the discussion point
into supporting the developing end of the year. efficiency savings, there are clear for the latest in a series of SB
world deal with climate change In the second year (2011/12) benefits from positive, immediate Round Table Debate. See pages
extra weighting will be given to action to tackle climate change. 19-22 for a full report
Transport Copenhagen could
start the electric vehicle revolu-
PERFORMANCE
tion. Plus, aviation and shipping
are not likely to get off lightly,
FTSE companies urged to do more
and are likely to be forced into
cap-and-trade mechanisms Despite more and more business- However, only 35% of the in providing a framework for
es in the UK now disclosing their FTSE 350 has set targets to get businesses to set these targets.”
Clean tech Ensuring green greenhouse gas emissions data, emissions down – a figure lower According to the report, 55% of
technology is available will be just 35% of the biggest companies than the 51% of Global 500 busi- UK companies consider the forth-
crucial. Things like carbon have set targets to reduce their nesses that have set targets. coming CRC legislation, coming
capture and storage needs carbon emissions. “This year the UK’s largest in April 2010, as a risk. Around
attention – and funding Royal Dutch Shell, Tesco and businesses are showing year-on- 24% see it as an opportunity.
Unilever are among the firms year improvement in the quantity Reporting of emissions fore-
Carbon trading The existing leading the UK’s efforts in both and quality of climate change data casts increased from 7% in 2008
commitment periods for the performance and disclosure in disclosed,” said CDP’s chief exec- to 30% this year, showing that
clean development mechanism tackling climate change, according utive Paul Dickinson. more companies are focusing on
and joint implementation end to the latest Carbon Disclosure “Yet with regulation such as the their future carbon exposure as
in 2012. Copenhagen will be Project (CDP) FTSE 350 report. Carbon Reduction Commitment regulation increases.
crucial for carbon credit devel- The study reveals that UK (CRC) and the EU Emissions The utility industry is the
opers looking for reforms in the firms are disclosing the highest Trading Scheme making climate strongest performing sector of the
sector, particularly for CDM ever levels of greenhouse gas change an increasingly material FTSE 350, with 67% of firms
emissions at 390 million metric issue, a greater number of UK achieving positive results in
SB will be reporting extensively tonnes of CO2-equivalent – companies need to be setting emissions reduction and energy
on the UN summit in a special around 61% of the UK’s emissions reduction targets. A saving measures from carbon
free supplement with the total emissions. new global deal will be essential reduction programmes.
February edition
IN FACT IN A SURVEY, 56% OF DATA CENTRE MANAGERS SAY THEY DO NOT REGULARLY LOOK AT THEIR ELECTRICITY BILLS
6 November/December 2009 ❘ Sustainable Business
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