The importance of tracking carbon emissions

News Article - 12 November 2009
Category: Environment

Businesses have once again been urged to cut their carbon emissions, following the Hadley Centre's report that global temperatures could rise by up to 4 degrees by 2060. In 2007, the 4 degree rise was not expected until 2100. Asher Minns, Communications Manager of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, has stressed that governments and businesses must seriously ramp up their commitment to cutting carbon emissions to limit the temperature rise over the next 100 years.

Carbon emissions output has been topical for decades, both internationally and domestically. The Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997, was a global effort to stabilize the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As of now, 183 nations have signed up. On the home-front, Labour have promised big changes. In 1997, they pledged that by 2010, levels would stand at 20% less than in 1990. Although this will not happen, David Milliband upped the ante with a new pledge to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.

The Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, and in December delegates will meet in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference to agree a successor. Reducing carbon emissions is clearly becoming more and more topical as the urgency increases. The need for large reductions will encourage governments to look to big producers to become accountable for the problem, or at least show attempts to offset it. If your carbon footprint is sizeable, shouldn't you be taking action?

One of the most important steps you can take is to start keeping track of your carbon output. This is more than just usable data - it's an investment for the future. As the need for accountability increases, so does the need for tangible figures that can be called upon as evidence of your adaptability to climate change goals. If you're asked what you're doing to solve the problem, you can provide hard statistics showing how your output has dropped.

Access includes carbon emissions reporting as standard in Access Dimensions and FocalPoint. In fact, we were the first company to provide such tools as an integral part of business and accounting software. Our software allows you to slice and dice information to see exactly what parts of the business have the highest emitting carbon emissions. The business can then analyse and report on this information, using it to determine the carbon reduction strategy moving forward.

With Copenhagen just around the corner and the looming threat of sharp temperature rises, it's possible for businesses to do their bit. After all, reducing carbon emissions will save money and add to the bottom line. The Accounting for Carbon Emissions tool within Access Dimensions and FocalPoint has made monitoring, measuring and reporting on a company's carbon footprint very easy, as it doesn't add cost or complexity. 

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