A public consultation on guidance aimed at helping organisations to manage and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was launched today by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

The guidance, published under the requirements of the Climate Change Act 2008, outlines a simple and clear step-by-step process on how an organisation should calculate its own corporate carbon footprint. The guidance will be published after the consultation by 1 October.

“I hope this guidance will make the measuring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions easier for all organisations as a first step in helping them to manage and reduce their emissionsk” said Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment. “It is not just aimed at large, listed companies; smaller enterprises also have a part to play in tackling GHG emissions.”

“Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing our planet and as a Government we know we can only fight it if we have popular support and people are willing to act,” added Joan Ruddock, Minister for Climate Change. “If we are going to tackle climate change effectively then we need to help organisations calculate their own carbon footprint. That’s why it’s important we make this guidance as clear and straight-forward as possible so that those organisations taking action to reduce emissions — by rethinking their business, taking energy efficiency measures and investing in renewables — can clearly and credibly demonstrate this.”

She continued, “Parliament has been clear of its wish for greenhouse gas reporting by organisations to become mandatory in the near future. Those organisations who grasp the opportunity now to develop robust reporting will be well placed to respond to the Government’s planned approach to mandatory reporting.”

When the guidance is published, it will not only help the UK to meet its carbon budget targets but should help organisations benefit from lower costs by identifying inefficiencies in resource and energy use.

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