Electricity
supplier
npower Business - UK business confused over climate change
A survey of British business has found
widespread confusion over climate change initiatives and the
likely impact of a move to a 'low carbon economy'.
The fourth npower Business Energy Index (nBEI) published today,
canvassed 200 senior managers and energy buyers at SMEs and
large industrial and commercial firms on attitudes to energy
use, costs and the low carbon economy.
The research revealed a marked lack of support for attempts to
reduce carbon emissions, even among the UK's most energy
intensive businesses.
The findings also showed an apparent lack of understanding about
the nature of a low carbon economy and its implications for UK
businesses.
Despite the high profile of climate change in political and
public debate, and the emphasis on reducing carbon emissions,
the report found a wide range of interpretations of the term
'low carbon economy'. Verbatim comments from the report include;
‘the final nail in the coffin of UK manufacturing’ and
‘basically a system whereby the Government will punish those
people using high energy’.
When asked if reducing carbon emissions was a business priority,
a substantial number (60%) of all respondents stated it was not.
However, for major energy users, 60% believed reducing CO2 was a
business priority. Of those major users who had said it was not
a priority, 64% of these said it never would be, illustrating a
polarised view amongst major energy users.
Despite the scepticism over carbon impact, the findings of the
fourth nBEI do reveal that, with ongoing cost pressures, energy
management has never been a higher priority for business. This
sentiment is also translating into action, with an increasing
number of businesses monitoring energy then ever previously
reported in the nBEI.
Gordon Parsons, Managing Director, npower business commented:
"The responses in nBEI suggest business is responding to cost
signals by taking important steps in energy management, but
there remains a lack of deep understanding of the business
potential, and risk, of a likely increased focus on carbon
reductions."
Parsons concluded: "Recently many large organisations including
Tesco, BT and Marks & Spencer have seen the commercial
opportunities to be gained by taking a more environmental
approach to operations.
"More work needs to be done to change this approach from the
exception to the rule. The energy industry, government and NGOs
have a role to play in helping demonstrate that reducing energy
cost and tackling C02 are mutually beneficial as opposed to
mutually exclusive."
Email:
katie.hornshaw@europe.mccann.com