Comment by Nicole Clucas for August/September CCB 119
In spite of the global downturn, it’s encouraging to note from the stories in this section that companies still have an appetite for managing carbon emissions and their environmental impact.
The Carbon Clear report found that supermarkets are leading the way in carbon reporting, whereas mining, metals and building companies are failing to report. This is interesting given the huge impact these sectors have on the environment. This is where mandatory carbon reporting would be useful to ensure companies account for the impact of their operations, with potential penalities for non compliance. Providing guidance would also create a level playing field to enable more accurate comparisons across both industries and by turnover. There have been some movement on these issues, Defra issued a consultation document on mandatory reporting standards in May, the results of which are yet to be announced.
Other countries have started to make progress on these issues. Australia recently introduced mandatory reporting and is also considering partnering with the EU in carbon trading.
China is surpassing other countries in terms of innovation and development and is beginning to show signs that at least some of this will be done in an environmentally friendly way. If growth is to be sustainable, green issues need to come to the fore with all companies accounting for their impact.
ABB wins order for offshore wind power connection
ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth around $1 billion from the grid operator TenneT to supply a power link connecting offshore North Sea wind farms to the German mainland grid. This is the largest power transmission order in ABB’s history; the completed link will be capable of supplying more than 1.5 million households with clean wind-generated electricity. ABB will design, engineer, supply and install the offshore platform, the offshore and onshore converter stations and the land and sea cable systems. Scheduled to be operational in 2015, this offshore network will help to avoid more than three million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year by replacing fossil-fuel based generation. This is the third offshore wind connection order for ABB in Germany.
WRI launches global database of water risk information
The World Resources Institute is launching the Aqueduct Alliance, a global consortium of leading water experts from the private and public sectors, NGO’s and academia to assess and respond to increasing water risk.The aim is to produce a global database of water risk information which will enable users to create water risk maps including unprecedented levels of detail. The water risk maps will capture geographically specific social, economic and governance factors, that will affect companies and economies combined with hydrological data. The database will be publically available and will encourage both private and public sector efforts to reduce water footprints and lead to more sustainable water resources management in water-stressed basins across the world.
Courtauld Commitment passes half century milestone for signatories
WRAP has announced that Ocado, Nestle Waters UK, Carlsberg, PLB Group and Typhoo are the latest companies to sign up to the second phase of its voluntary pledge, which aims to encourage a more sustainable use of resources over the entire lifecycle of products. The second phase of the Courtauld Commitment, builds on phase one launched in 2005, and is based around targets which seek to reduce increase the recycling rate of packaging and reduce household food and waste and supply chain product packaging and waste. The latest signatories take the total number of UK brands, retailers and suppliers to 53. Dr Richard Swannell, Director of Design and Waste Prevention, WRAP, stated “Courtauld Commitment signatories represent the vast majority of leading brands purchased by UK shoppers, which offers huge potential for reducing waste across the UK.”
Britain’s biggest companies get to grips with carbon reporting
Most companies in the FTSE 100 are now regularly reporting on their carbon emissions and showing evidence of carbon reductions according to a report published by Carbon Clear. The research shows that 93 of the 100 companies had issued a 2010 carbon report by June 2011, and that 44 publish carbon data for at least the past 5 years. 77 companies report carbon reductions in relative or absolute terms over the previous 12 months. The companies were scored against 33 reporting criteria using publically available information from each company. The top 10 performers were British Sky Broadcasting, Marks & Spencer Group, Aviva, Pearson, RSA Insurance Group, GSK, Hammerson, Kingfisher, Sainsbury and Tesco. The Supermarket and Publishing sectors are best performers, with the Manufacturing, Mining & Metals and Building Materials sectors coming bottom of the league table.
USA sees rise in energy-related CO2 emissions in 2010
According to Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2010, an online analysis released by the US Energy Information Administration, carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption of fossil fuels have seen the largest percentage increase since 1988. Emissions have increased 3.9% since 2009, to 5,638 million metric tons carbon dioxide in 2010. However emissions are still 6% below the 2005 level. Factors that influenced the rise in emissions include an increase in the Gross Domestic Product of 3% and a 6% increase in the consumption of coal, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel. Acting EIA Administrator Howard Gruenspecht said: “The 3.9% increase in emissions in 2010 was primarily driven by the rebound from the economic downturn experienced in 2008 and 2009. “ An average of o.2% emissions growth is projected over the next decade.
Contact: US Energy Information Administration www.eia.gov
PepsiCo and the Nature Conservancy collaborate on Positive Water Impact pilot
PepsiCo and the Nature Conservancy have recently completed the first phase of a joint Positive Water Impact study, concentrating on increasing the level and quality of water available in the communities where PepsiCo suppliers operate. Over the last year, the study has assessed local watershed conditions and restoration opportunities in five pilot locations in the UK, US, India, China and Mexico. These pilot studies will provide a framework for developing a tool for identifying, designing and evaluating watershed remediation strategies that are relevant to the specific challenges that individual sites face. The findings are detailed in a report, ‘Striving for Positive Water Impact’, which was released at Stockholm International Water Institute’s World Water Week.
Sony Corporation has achieved or exceeded the majority of the targets set out in its “Green Management 2010” mid-term environmental plan, including an over 30% reduction in global CO2 emissions across its business sites compared with levels in 2000. Sony’ GM2010 plan, introduced in 2006, aimed to reduce the company’s environmental impact by 2010. The plan has a series of aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets to be achieved through various innovative initiatives . These include the use of alternative materials to replace substances with high global warming potential in its manufacturing processes, and the reduction of energy-related CO2 emissions through the installation of advanced energy systems. As part of the plan, Sony has also reduced water usage by 41% and waste generation by 54%, exceeding targets in both areas.
EPRI receives $1.4 million for water quality pilot trades
The electric Power Research Institute has received a $1 million Conservation Innovation grant from the US Department of Agriculture to initiate water quality pilot trades in the Ohio River Basin. This grant will fund Phase II of the Ohio River Basin water quality trading project, which aims to achieve water quality improvements more efficiently and at lower costs. The project also supports an agricultural conservation regime and best management practices to improve local and regional water quality in the Ohio Basin. At full-scale the project would become the world’s largest water quality trading programme, covering eight states which would see a credit market created for wastewater facilities, 230,000 farmers and 46 power plants.
Thames Water has recently launched WaterWisely, a new website consisting of a virtual water-efficient town. This interactive town allows visitors to pick up free water saving gadgets, calculate their water usage and get a personal report which details how they can save water, compare the water use to others in the country and get tips to share with others. This initiative aims to encourage people to value water as a resource and to reduce their usage. According to a survey of 1,800 people conducted by Thames Water, almost one in four people leaves the tap running when brushing their teeth, accounting for around 120 billion litres of water wasted per year. It is thought WaterWisely could help Thames Water customers to reduce their water and energy bills by £75 each year.
Pike Research forecasts that the world market for smart meters will peak at just over 100 million units in 2015. The growth of the industry will be characterized by regional waves of adoption, beginning with the North American market, which will peak in 2012, followed by a peak in Asia Pacific in 2015, in Europe in 2017, and more gradual long-term growth in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. By 2020, the global installed base will reach 963 million smart meters, a penetration rate of 59% among all installed electric meters.
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