Best Foot Forward

The new research report reveals that companies responding to the fifth annual Carbon Disclosure Project questionnaire are using a total of 34 different public protocols or guidelines to report on their emissions. Meanwhile interviews with stakeholders show that there's an increasing demand for intra-industry sector standardisation of corporate emissions reporting.

Investors in particular note the need to report corporate emissions performance in relation to corporate growth and financials, and for companies to use emissions intensity metrics appropriate for the nature of their operations.

The report gives detailed, practical overviews of the most common reporting protocols used by business. The research also analyses the degree to which third-part auditors are employed to verify corporate emissions data and looks at the use of emissions intensity indictors by FT500 companies.

It focuses on the emissions reduction targets set by different corporations. Detailed accounts of exactly how individual corporations report their emissions intensity and their emission reduction targets are given in the appendix for the report.

Other climate related market intelligence reports to be launched by the Ethical Corporation Institute in the coming weeks include 'A practical guide to corporate emissions trading and offsetting' and an accessible briefing designed to help UK companies to prepare for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) upcoming Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme.