UK rail network signals intention to cut carbon emissions by a quarter
The UK's rail industry has this week set out ambitious new plans designed to slash the network's operating costs and reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent per passenger kilometre by the end of the decade. The industry's leading players, including the Association of Train Operating Companies, Rail Freight Operators Association and network operator Network Rail, yesterday released an Initial Industry Plan (IIP) for the period from 2014 to 2019, detailing proposals for a major new upgrade programme designed to increase capacity and enhance efficiency across the network. To read this full article click here
BT, Marshalls Seek Supply Chain CO2 Cuts, U.K. Carbon Trust Says
BT Group Plc (BT/A), the U.K.’s biggest fixed-line phone company, and the building materials maker Marshalls Plc (MSLH) are among the multinational companies seeking emissions cuts in their supply chains, the Carbon Trust said. About 40 percent of U.K. multinationals are already taking measures to reduce the environmental impact of their suppliers, and of those that aren’t, 84 percent plan to do so within three years, according to a statement e-mailed today by the trust, which advises British businesses on carbon-reduction measures. The survey showed that 56 percent of the companies polled expect to stop using suppliers that have a “poor record” on cutting greenhouse gases, the trust said. Two-thirds said they would pay a premium for components or services with low emissions, and as much as 15 percent said they’re prepared to pay suppliers to make CO2 cuts. To read this article in full click here
China population to become world's biggest polluters
China's carbon emissions for each member of its population could overtake that of Britain as early as the end of next year, it has been revealed. The prediction comes in a report which shows that the country's carbon footprint is expanding far faster than predicted. A combination of an infrastructure building spree and the ramping up of carbon-intensive industries after the 2008 financial crisis means China is now being catapulted into the ranks of developed world countries when it comes to per person CO2 emissions. China already emits more carbon per person than France and Spain and on current trends will surpass the United States in per person emissions as early as 2017, according to the report conducted by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment agency and sponsored by the European Commission. To read this article in full click here
EU hits 'Top 10' airlines with historic carbon benchmarks
The European Union has announced that it will give airlines 85% of their carbon emission permits for free in 2012, under a new benchmarking scheme that will cap emissions at below their average for the years 2004-2006. Permits to pollute any more than that will have to be bought in an auctioning scheme, or traded in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The EU executive estimates that this will save 72 million tonnes of CO2 a year by 2020. Market analysts Point Carbon say that the Top 10 airlines will be hit hardest by the new scheme, as they face a 30 million-tonne shortfall in their CO2 allowances next year. Consequently, the €360 million bill will then be passed on to the consumer. To read this article in full click here
Half of multinationals looking for low-carbon suppliers, finds report
Shareholder pressure is driving multinational companies to look for low-carbon suppliers, according to a new report from Carbon Trust Advisory. The study of senior managers carried out by Dynamic Markets found that 50% will be selecting suppliers the basis of their carbon performance in the future in a bid to cut ‘cradle to grave’ product-associated emissions. According to the report, Cutting Carbon in the Value Chain, 29% of suppliers are likely to lose their contracts if they do not have a good carbon performance record, while 58% of the managers surveyed said that they would pay a premium for a low-carbon supplier. But the study found a large difference between the UK and the US. While in the UK 56% of multinationals said they would drop ‘high’ carbon suppliers, only 28% of US multinationals would do likewise. Scrutiny of supply chain emissions marks the next stage of corporate responsibility, since 93% of those surveyed saying that they are already addressing their own emissions. While 40% of companies are now looking at their indirect emissions originating from their supply chain, its importance is only likely to become more important in future. In the UK, 74% of respondents said shareholder pressure would drive greater scrutiny of the supply chain in future, while in the US the figure stands at 32%. To view this article in full click here
London 2012 Spectators Invited to set New Carbon Offset World Record
Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls lead call for ticketholders to neutralise their travel Carbon Footprint to the games. In supporting the ambition for London 2012 to be the most sustainable Games possible, BP Target Neutral announced today that they are inviting London 2012 ticketholders, from across the world, to try and set a new world record for the most number of people offsetting their travel carbon to a single event. In so doing, BP's not-for-profit Target Neutral carbon management scheme is seeking to create awareness of the environmental impact of all journeys and will invite ticketholders to sign up to have their travel carbon footprint offset at no cost to themselves. As the London 2012 official Carbon Offset Partner, BP Target Neutral will be providing the administration and funds to offset the carbon emissions from Games-related travel of ticketholders. The more people that sign up, the more Target Neutral can support low carbon development projects worldwide. To read this article in full click here
