Top carbon performers increase returns

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Disclosure Project (CDP) Global 5001 report, published today – 14 September 20111, which examines carbon reduction activities at the world’s largest public corporations, has found for the first time in the ten year history of the survey, that the majority have climate change actions embedded as part of their business strategy. The report, written by global professional services firm PwC on behalf of CDP, attributes this to growing board-level awareness of the link between energy efficiency and increased profitability. The report, entitled Accelerating low carbon growth, analyzed disclosures from 396 of the world’s largest companies2, which revealed 68% have climate change at the heart of business strategies, compared with 48% in 2010. There was also a marked rise in the number of companies reporting reduced greenhouse gas emissions as a result of emissions reduction activities (45%, up from 19% in 2010). A correlation was also established between higher stock market performance over time, and representation on CDP’s Carbon Performance Leadership Index (CPLI) and the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI). Companies with a strategic focus on climate change provided investors with approximately double the average total return of the Global 500 from January 2005 to May 2011. Kaj Embrén, Sustainable Business Coach, +46-70-398 22 11, kaj@embren.com.