Carbon Management Starter Programme to help companies cut emissions

Through consultancy support and access to relevant information, the Carbon Management Starter Programme is designed to ensure that businesses are best placed to maintain competitiveness in the face of the new carbon emission costs, and benefit from the new emissions trading market.

“The Climate Change Levy, and emissions trading, are now a reality,” said Dr Richard Tipper, Managing Director of Greenergy Carbon Partners, at the launch. “Unfortunately, many businesses are ill prepared as they await the outcome of negotiations between government and industry bodies. As a result, their competitiveness is under threat.”

“Prudent business will act now to ensure that they understand the potential impacts of emissions reduction legislation and the opportunities presented by new trading markets,” said Dr Tipper. “The Carbon Management Starter Programme is the simple way to begin this process.”

The core elements of the programme include:

• carbon assessment, without interruption of the company’s business, and comparison with competitors’ emissions;
• setting an appropriate baseline year for reductions;
• setting reduction targets, taking into account the company’s size and sector, and ascertaining the costs and benefits of various reduction levels;
• ensuring companies gain the financial benefits of energy efficiency.

Greenergy was responsible for introducing Carbon Certified Electricity, a package designed to help businesses meet carbon reduction requirements by buying conventionally generated electricity, as well as purchasing it from more environmentally sound sources (see related story).