New guidelines for business to help measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

 

Businesses produce a significant proportion of the UK’s GHG emissions and have a direct role to play in helping the UK meet its climate change commitments. New guidance to measure and tackle greenhouse gas emissions for businesses and organisations – alongside advice on what it means to be carbon neutral - has been published by Defra and DECC. The guidance helps businesses and organisations to measure and report their current emissions and set reduction targets.

 

Energy Minister Joan Ruddock said:

 

'We are committed to setting UK businesses on a course to combating climate change that will inspire other nations to take the same action. Measuring emissions is fundamental to our understanding of climate change and a vital first step towards managing carbon impacts. Businesses will play a vital part in the UK's move to a low carbon future and this guidance will enable organisations to identifying their emissions and work towards reducing them saving energy and money'.

 

Key elements of the Guidance

 

The UK committed to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 under the Climate Change Act 2008. One of the requirements in the Act was to publish guidance to help organisations report on the emissions that they are responsible for.

 

• The guidance is part of the Government response to the Climate Change Act 2008 and has been produced by Defra and DECC.
• Organisations using this voluntary guidance will not be required to submit reports or make data available to government. Reporting on emissions is voluntary.
• The guidance covers all 6 Kyoto greenhouse gases.
• Organisations can measure and report on all emissions that they are responsible for – both direct emissions and indirect emissions.
• The guidance is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which is the internationally recognised standard for corporate accounting and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the World Resources Institute/World Business Council for Sustainable Development. 

 

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: 'By reducing GHG emissions, organisations can save money on energy costs and resource efficiencies – as well as maintaining a competitive edge through strengthening their green credentials.'

 

The guidance is aimed at all sizes of business as well as public and third sector organisations.

 

What does 'carbon neutral' mean?

 

Based on a recent consultation, the Government has adopted the following definition:

 

'Carbon neutral means that – through a transparent process of calculating emissions,
reducing those emissions and offsetting residual emissions – net carbon emissions equal zero'

Emissions reduction measures remain at the heart of carbon management activity.

 

Related links

Download the new guidance