Mega Corporations Understand The Dangers Of Climate Change

While the U.S. federal government might be dragging its feet about climate change, corporations operating in the U.S. fully understand the physical and financial threats posed by extreme climate shifts. According to a new report by The Carbon Disclosure Project, members of the S&P 500 are making great progress in both their acknowledgment of climate change, and in their actions to reduce their own carbon footprints.

The study measured several different markers for corporations, including their willingness to fully disclose their less-than-friendly environmental practices. Overall, the study shows remarkable progress from previous years’ studies.

Here is what they found:




The average disclosure score of the S&P 500 increased by 13% to 70 and the disclosure score required to gain entry to the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) increased by 11% to 92.

52% (177) of respondents reported emissions reduction activities versus 35% (117) in 2011.

Assurance or verification of emissions data nearly doubled, reaching 42% (142) in 2012 versus 22% (75) in 2011, signaling that S&P 500 companies are taking transparency more seriously and improving the reliability of their data.

92% (311) of the 2012 S&P 500 respondents reported board or executive-level oversight compared to 86% (292) in 2011.

Climate change has been further integrated into enterprise risk management (83% (281) in 2012 versus 75% (254) in 2011) and overall business strategy (73% (247) in 2012 versus 65% (219) in 2011).

74% (251) of the 2012 S&P 500 respondents identified climate change opportunities that had the potential to generate a substantive change in business operations, revenue and expenditures, versus 69% (234) in 2011.

25% (83) of respondents disclosed GHG information in their Annual Reports up from 18% (61) in 2011.


http://www.desmogblog.com/2012/09/12/mega-corporations-understand-dangers-climate-change