The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), the UK’s largest environmental professional association representing over 15,000 practitioners, lhas launched new research calling on Government to introduce mandatory reporting on greenhouse gas emissions.

“The majority of companies in the UK are not taking action to lower their carbon footprint and reduce their GHG emissions.  These companies are missing an opportunity to cut their GHG emissions and reduce their costs.  Over 80% of those we surveyed say that mandatory reporting of GHG emissions should be introduced for companies,” said Martin Baxter, Executive Director of Policy, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.

“Mandatory GHG reporting provides an opportunity for Government to take a new approach to regulation that creates a more consistent landscape for business, and is more efficient for business to deliver and reduce GHG emissions.  By creating a transparent framework, mandatory reporting will make companies accountable for reporting and delivering cuts in their GHG emissions.”

Business professionals that the IEMA surveyed believe GHG reporting can deliver significant benefits with those reporting reductions indicating an average of 9% savings over the last two years. GHG reporting provides a critical mechanism for encouraging companies to cut their GHG emissions and help the UK meet its climate change targets.

Jonathan Garrett, Group Head of Environment Balfour Beatty, commented:

"The growing low carbon economy presents Balfour Beatty with a multi-billion pound market opportunity.  We are using our expertise to help our customers achieve their carbon reduction goals, whilst also playing our part in reducing our own emissions.  We have reduced our UK carbon footprint by 16% over the last two years.  Reporting on our GHG emissions has made us want to become a low carbon leader, and we have therefore set a global target of reducing our carbon emissions by 10% by 2012, increasing to a 50% reduction by 2020 against a 2010 baseline." 

Larger companies in the construction sector have made significant progress

Reporting on GHG emissions has grown steadily over the past ten years, with the most significant growth of up to 20% in 2009-10.  Larger companies particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors have made significant progress.  Mandatory reporting is key to ensuring that GHG management continues to grow and reaches new sectors of the economy such as the wider supply chain and SME sector.

Legislation is seen as the prime motivator for ensuring further growth in GHG management and encouraging companies to cut their emissions.  However, other barriers needed to be overcome. 83% of environmental practitioners surveyed said that competing priorities such as other legislative requirements were hindering progress in GHG management, and 75% of those surveyed said that a lack of financial commitment and the need for short term return on investment was also a barrier.  47% also said that other factors such as the need for more skills and training were an issue that needed addressing. 

Pritchard, UK Head of Corporate Responsibility, RSA Group, commented:

“Our investment in developing carbon related skills and knowledge has been a key driver in delivering and implementing successful GHG cuts and reporting in the RSA. Individuals involved in the programme, primarily in the Property Services and Corporate Responsibility functions, not only needed broad environmental skills but expertise in finance, engineering, and communication and influencing skills.  The carbon agenda has developed rapidly and it’s apparent that the UK economy has a skills gap in this area.”