Global corporates taking part in WWF’s climate savers programme, including Coca-Cola, HP, IBM, Johnson Johnson, Lafarge, Nike, Tetra Pak, Sony and Volvo, have cut their collective CO2 emissions by over 100 million tonnes between 1999 and 2011.
According to an independent review of the programme by consultants Ecofys, if the participants keep up their actions their emissions savings by 2020 could exceed 350 million tonnes – roughly equivalent to the total annual emissions of Spain.
“The leadership shown by Climate Savers confirms that companies in diverse sectors can do good business and take a bite out of climate change,” says Alexander Quarles van Ufford of WWF International.
High fuel and commodity prices are making resource efficiency and low carbon operation “part of the corporate DNA”, he adds.
But there is potential for far greater emissions cuts it other major corporations follow the example set by WWF’s Climate Savers.
According to Ecofys’ analysis, a further 500-1000 million tonnes of emissions could be avoided annually in 2020 if other corporate in the 16 business sectors where the programme is active followed suit.
The report says that corporates’ efforts could contribute up to 9% to closing the ‘emissions gap’, highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the difference between rising greenhouse gas emissions and what is needed to limit global warming to 2°C.
“Greater voluntary efforts by industry are possible and essential. But the size of the task means it cannot be accomplished solely by voluntary business action. Governments have to strengthen the international policy framework to mandate deeper emission reductions,” says Ufford.
For further information:
www.panda.org/climatesavers
www.ecofys.com
Related stories:
First four South Korean firms earn Carbon Trust Standard (10-Apr)
Major businesses call for carbon emission reductions (24-Feb)
Six companies named as global leaders in cutting emissions (5-Dec)
Over 340 global companies sign up to 2°C Challenge Communiqué (1-Dec)
Article source: http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/5095/
