UK businesses meet carbon reporting deadline

Nearly 100 per cent of UK businesses have met the first reporting deadline for the Carbon Reduction Commitment, according to the Environment Agency.

Figures released by the UK’s Environment Agency show 4,295 of the 4,549 - 95 per cent  - businesses obligated to disclose information on their carbon footprint have done so by last month’s first reporting deadline, accounting for over 60 million tonnes of carbon emissions and 10 per cent of emissions by nation.

In a released statement, Tony Grayling, Head of Climate Change and Communities at the Environment Agency, said: “This is a new scheme for the UK, so we are pleased that the vast majority of organisations required to submit a report have done so by the deadline.”

Under the scheme, businesses are charged £12 per tonne of CO2 emitted, creating and incentive to reduce energy consumption. Businesses are required to register for the scheme if 6,000 megawatt hours or more of half-hourly electricity was consumed in 2008. The next charging period for carbon output will begin in 2012, covering the fiscal year for 2011/12.

It is expected the remaining five per cent of businesses who have yet to report emissions will face a penalty of £5,000 and “industry shaming” by inclusion on an offenders list to be posted on the Carbon Reduction Commitment website.

Businesses that persistently fail to disclose emissions could be fined upwards of £40,000 and suffer greater financial loss by having the regulators determine the output charging up to £40 per tonne of CO2.

The figures will be used to compile the first Carbon Reduction Commitment league table, ranking business on performance and improvement. The league is due out later this year.

Article by Diva Rodriguez | Climate Action