Carbon reporting delay ‘costly and bureaucratic’, say businesses

This follows an announcement by government last week (March 27) that it plans to delay its decision on whether or not to introduce carbon reporting – despite strong support from businesses, NGOs and environmental groups to introduce the measure.

Of almost 300 edie readers, 38% said the delay to carbon reporting is putting their business under pressure financially and that the current process contains too much red tape.

A further 31% agreed the process is frustrating but said that the Government should scrap the existing Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) first – rather than attempting to simplify it.

However, an equal proportion said they felt the delay wasn’t having much of an impact on their business.

The findings echo the results of an Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), poll which revealed that 90% of companies want mandatory reporting to be introduced.

Of these 92% said it would provide a “simplified framework and level playing field” for businesses reporting on their carbon emissions.

Meanwhile, Defra’s own consultation on MCR concluded that nearly 65% of organisations support it in some form.

Sustainable business alliance the Aldersgate Group chairman Peter Young criticised the decision, saying that the Government’s “failure to act now undermines business’ call for much greater transparency and consistency”.

As a result, he says that “urgency is paramount”, adding that “businesses cannot be left in the dark for months on end. There is great pressure to introduce mandatory carbon reporting as soon and widely as practical”.

He concludes by saying that carbon reporting is an “essential step” to meeting carbon budgets, as well as driving efficiency and growth from UK business.

Carys Matthews