Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ANALYSIS OF CARING FOR
CLIMATE SIGNATORIES
that they industry is such that their emissions will
never be regulated and it does not make business
sense for them to invest money and human capital
into reduction programs (Hoffman, 2005).
This study set out to examine the impact of the
UNGC's C4C program, and explore the extent
to which participating firms reduced emissions
or improved emissions intensities. In addition,
it explores the types of successes and shortcom-
ings C4C signatories experience throughout this
process.
Emissions Scopes
This study is concerned with GHG emissions that
result from all corporate activities. These activities
range from fueling trucks that mine for metals to
powering lights in an office with electricity. GHG
emissions typically occur where some sort of
reaction such as combustion or decomposition is
occurring. Despite the fact that not all companies
have operations that physically encompass these
types of reactions, all companies demand the
services or products of other companies that burn
fuels or engage in other GHG emitting activities.
For this reason it is important to define how a
company is involved with emissions.
Direct GHG Emissions represent a reaction
that is occurring at a source controlled by the
reporting company.
Indirect GHG Emissions represent a reaction
that is occurring at a source that is NOT controlled
by the reporting company. However, the emissions
occur as a result of product or service demands
made by the reporting company.
These emissions can further be divided into
three scopes:
Research Methods
1
The project assessed public disclosures of GHG
emissions of large company “Caring for Climate”
(C4C) signatories within the UN Global Compact
(UNGC). The analysis began in September 2008
and included the public disclosures of GHG
emissions of 145 large companies that were C4C
signatories at that time. The original objective was
to identify progress toward disclosure and more
generally toward the objectives described in the
C4C business leaders' statement. In January 2010
this data was updated to reflect new disclosures
and additional C4C signatories, for a review of
255 companies in total.
Results
The firms surveyed originate in 47 countries and
represent 28 distinct business sectors. For 62% of
the companies, we analyzed Communications of
Progress (COPs), which is the reporting system
that the UNGC requires of all signatories on an
annual basis. Some firms had very detailed COPs
with specific GHG emissions numbers and reduc-
tion targets. For those COPs that did not include
this information, we looked for it on the company
websites, in the sustainability reports, and in the
annual reports.
In addition, 38% of the large company signa-
tories were participants in the Carbon Disclosure
Project (CDP). Reporting formats for CDP are
Scope 1: All direct GHG emissions.
Scope 2: Indirect GHG emissions from consump-
tion of purchased electricity, heat or steam.
Scope 3: Other indirect emissions, such as the
extraction and production of purchased ma-
terials and fuels, transport-related activities
in vehicles not owned or controlled by the
reporting entity, electricity-related activities
not covered in Scope 2, outsourced activities,
waste disposal, etc. (The Greenhouse Gas
Protocol, 2010).
