Why Act Now
Three powerful driving forces will increasingly impact on companies' bottom line:
- Growing public concern over climate change is influencing consumer buying behaviour
- Legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions is likely to be expanded to cover more businesses and to a greater extent, providing both penalties and incentives
- Rising global energy demand, as well as other factors, will continue to put upward pressure on energy prices
Threats to businesses include:
- Rising electricity, gas, oil and road fuel prices
- Loss of brand reputation
- Loss of customers
- Increased carbon regulations and taxes
- Pressure from large companies down their supply chains
- Expectation of a robust and proactive corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy by customers
- Possible reduced energy availability
By reducing carbon emissions, businesses will:
- Improve their bottom line
- Provide a competitive edge in a difficult economic climate
- Drive more sales and win more tenders
- Retain more customers
- Reduce the tax burden
- Reduce the amount of management and staff time required to deal with climate change legislation
- Decrease exposure to increasing energy prices
- Help attract more suitable employees
- Improve the environment