In the transition to a low carbon economy, carbon management represents a new and fundamental challenge for business, and how companies respond to this challenge is fast becoming a strategic issue.

There are numerous benefits for embarking on a Carbon Management Programme

• Reduced Operating Costs: Increased efficiencies result in decreased resource consumption and therefore reduced operating costs.
• Differentiated Marketing and Communication: Capitalise on the significant marketing and media opportunities associated with climate-aware companies.
• Enhanced Brand Equity: Improve your company’s reputation by differentiating it’s offering and positioning it as a climate change leader in its sector.
• Regulation: Understand the potential liability associated with imminent carbon taxes, punitive tariff rises and other climate change-related legislation.
• Increased Customer Loyalty and Trust: Improve customer acquisition and retain the support of existing customers.
• Decreased Employee Turnover: Employees are proud to work for companies that are actively involved in the fight against global warming.
• Broader Investor Appeal: Ethical investment is now a consideration, with a particular concern for hidden carbon liabilities.
• Cost savings, brand enhancement and an increased competitive advantage

The environmental agenda is a key area where businesses can differentiate their offerings - a company that has its own active carbon management programme will stand apart from those that only pay lip service to the issue.

Benefits of risk management:

• Firstly, there are the policy implications of climate change, with carbon taxes, emissions reduction policies and incentives all likely to come into being at some stage in the future. Businesses that plan ahead and implement strategies to lower their carbon emissions now will be a step ahead of the rest when these policies become law.
• Secondly, there are the physical impacts of climate change that will affect many sectors – including, perhaps most significantly, the agricultural sector. While the effects are difficult to predict, many scientists warn of the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, as well as significant changes to current rainfall patterns. The damage to infrastructure from severe weather, or a scarcity of water in some regions, could disrupt business operations. The insurance industry globally has already felt the impact in recent years as claims from fierce weather events continue to escalate.
• Lastly, the market-related risks of ignoring climate change will increase, as investors continue to interrogate the carbon emissions of companies and as consumers move towards buying carbon neutral and more environmentally-friendly products. Companies with a “green” reputation stand to win over a growing market share of conscious consumers.