Executive Summary
As the management of carbon continues to move into companies’ core business strategies and mainstream investment thinking, demand for primary corporate climate change information grows around the world.
Paul Simpson, CEO CDP
The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) sent its 2011 questionnaire to the S&P 500 companies on behalf of 551 signatory institutional investors representing $71 trillion of assets. The corporations were asked to measure and disclose their climate change related- activities. The responses indicate that US corporations are integrating greenhouse gas (GHG) management into their near- and long-term business strategies.
Specifically:
• 87% (292) of S&P 500 respondents reported board or senior executive oversight of their company’s climate change programs, up from 68% (226) in 2010. With two-thirds of the S&P 500 index participating in this year’s questionnaire, this translates to at least 58% of the index viewing climate change as a mission-critical issue.
• 65% (219) of respondents reported that climate change issues are integrated into their overall business strategy, up from 35% (116) in 2010.
• 54% (183) of respondents provided monetary incentives for managing climate change issues, up from 35% (116) in 2010.
• 91% (306) of 2011 S&P 500 respondents disclosed GHG emissions, up from 88% (294) in 2010. Responses show a marked improvement in GHG emissions measurement and reporting.
• 64% (214) of 2011 respondents disclosed absolute and/or intensity emissions reduction targets, up from 51% (170) in 2010.
• 72% (242) of the 2011 S&P 500 respondents identified risks and 69% (233) identified opportunities that have the potential to substantively impact business operations. Responses indicate that a growing number of S&P 500 companies see a path forward from risk management and operational effectiveness to significant business opportunities and actionable, long- term strategic advantage.
• Over 60% (667) of emissions reduction projects reported by the 2011 S&P 500 respondents have a payback period of three years or less. Companies reported a higher number of opportunities to reduce emissions and those reflect increasingly innovative and creative approaches to GHG emissions reductions.
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