Carbon reporting reviewed

A recent change to the Companies Act means directors are
required to report on environmental matters, employees and social issues.

The Companies Act (2006) changes mean all organisations in the UK, regardless
of size, are required to produce a business review consisting of a narrative
component as well as a financial one on their carbon reduction policies and
measurements. However, the technicalities of reporting on environmental issues
have long been an enigma for finance directors and uncertainties around it
remain.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in conjunction with
DECC, published a report offering guidance on how to report, measure and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The report has been published to outline how
companies can measure, manage and communicate their environmental performance in
a business review, while improving processes and reducing costs through
efficiency measurements.

The main recommendations ask that directors:

• Identify where the responsibility for GHG reporting lies, under operational
  or financial control. The report recommends financial control, as it is the most
  easily aligned to financial accounting

• Measure and calculate total emissions on a global basis and for all six GHGs
  covered by the Kyoto Protocol – carbon dioxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons,
  nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride

• Report total GHG emissions as a gross figure in tonnes of CO2, which is set
  out in the guide on how that can be calculated using Defra’s measurement

• Report on emission reductions bought or sold, then report a net figure in
  tonnes of CO2, in addition to the gross figure

• Provide supporting explanations

• Choose and report on a base year which should be the earliest year that
  verifiable emissions data is available, and

• Set a reduction target and choose the approach to use.

Useful links
https://tinyurl.com/GHGreporting