Climate-friendly investment initiative tops Liveable City Awards

The CDP collects data on companies’ greenhouse emissions and on what they are doing to cut them, which is then published on the website www.cdproject.net. This won them the Socially Responsible Investment category, as well as the overall prize.

The profitability of the green approach was emphasised at the awards, which are presented annually to businesses, public sector and voluntary organisations for achievements in the field of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.

Climate change was also given a strong emphasis this year, and was a theme across many of the awards handed out.

The world-known ecologist Professor Norman Myers, who chaired the ceremony together with John Gummer MP, said: “Global warming is coming on very rapidly and it will cost us severely.”

Professor Myers emphasised the importance of energy efficiency as, so far, a more effective approach than clean and renewable energies.

“It doesn’t cost the earth to save the earth. It makes our economies more streamlined and competitive,” he added.

Professor Myers also gave his definition of sustainable development. “It is like teenage sex – everyone says they are doing it, but not many actually are, and those who are doing it are doing it badly,” he joked.

Winners of the eight award categories included a furniture recycling project from the NGO Quaker Social Action, and the construction company Berkeley Homes for its zero-carbon emission developments.

Sainsbury’s supermarkets won the Climate Change category for having reduced their carbon emissions by 20% since 2001, while an environmentally-friendly printing firm that uses innovative processes such as “chemistry free” printing plate production and vegetable based inks took the prizes in the Resource Conservation and Sustainable Procurement categories.

John Gummer MP said: “I am amazed at the range and quality of the applications for these awards – it’s great to see the efforts of small companies such as Kent Art Printers sitting alongside global coalitions like the Carbon Disclosure Project, both influential ambassadors of best practice.”

“All winners should be congratulated on the way in which sustainable development is becoming increasingly embedded in corporate culture, whether on a local or an international scale.”

Simon Mills, the City of London’s Environmental Co-ordinator said: “The standard of applicants this year was higher than ever and the diversity of applicants reflected the different approaches companies can take.”

“Our overall winner – the Carbon Disclosure Project – is a shining example of the type of innovation that has consolidated the City of London’s position as the world centre for climate change-related services and products.”

The CDP was praised for raising the profile of climate change amongst investors – and for “transforming $1.3 million of funding into $21 trillion of investor assets directed to tackling climate change.”

By Goska Romanowicz