Global Compact International Yearbook 2013
49
Agenda
In an effort to encourage greater climate action, Caring for
Climate has convened large companies and small and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs) to uphold five key commitments, the
essence of which are as follows:
1
| Reduce emissions, set targets, and report annual perfor-
mance.
2
| Devise a business strategy to approach climate risks and
opportunities.
3
| Engage with policymakers to encourage scaled-up climate
action.
4
| Work collaboratively with other enterprises to tackle climate
change.
5
| Become a climate-friendly business champion with stake-
holders.
To determine whether these commitments have been met,
Caring for Climate conducted research and analysis of activity
by signatories using publicly available climate change related
information reported by signatories through the Carbon
Disclosure Project (CDP) and in their Communications on
Progress for Climate (COP-Climate). These are some findings,
as presented in the Caring for Climate Progress Report 2012:
Regional and Sectoral Participation
Signatories of Caring for Climate are primarily located in
Europe and Asia although there is a notable presence in the
Americas as well. As seen in Figure 1, European signatories
made up 53 percent of total membership in 2011.
Multiple industries are well represented amongst Caring for
Climate signatories. However, the technology and industrial
sectors are the most frequent signatories with 18 percent and
20
percent of total membership, respectively, as indicated in
Figure 2.
Emissions Analysis
In defining a sample population of signatories for an emissions
trend analysis, Caring for Climate took into account large
companies that reported both high quality carbon and revenue
data for the reporting years 2009 and 2010. After reviewing
corporate disclosures to CDP and COP-Climate submissions
as well as other publicly available sustainability reports and
other relevant material, a sample population of 153 large
companies was selected to assess the emissions performance
of the initiative as a whole. During the reporting year 2010,
the sampled signatories released approximately 2,017 million
metric tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO
2
e) of scope
1
and 2 emissions into the atmosphere. Total scope 1 and 2
emissions of the Large Companies included in the sample
rose by 3.8 percent between 2009 and 2010 likely due in
part to the global economic recovery. Despite the increase in
emissions for the entire Caring for Climate sample, approxi-
mately 42 percent of sampled signatories reported absolute
reductions over the reporting period as detailed in Figure 3.
The top 25 performers from the sample reportedly achieved
approximately 16.8 MtCO
2
e in GHG reductions during the
2010
reporting year. It should be noted that five companies
within this “best in class” group achieved roughly 93 percent
of the calculated reductions. Within the top 25 signatories,
this population achieved between 2 percent and upwards of
18
percent declines in emissions year over year due to specific
emission reduction initiatives.
Source: Caring for Climate Progress Report 2012, C4C Update Letter
May 2013, compilation: Dr. Elmer Lenzen
Climate Change
Caring for Climate Business
Forum at COP19 / CMP9 in Warsaw
For the first time this year, the UN Global Compact, UNEP and
UNFCCC are organizing the Caring for Climate Business Forum:
Innovation, Ambition, Collaboration during COP19 / CMP9 on
19 - 20
November in Warsaw, Poland. At the Forum, business
and investors will have the opportunity to directly interface with
government negotiators, the UN and civil society. With a view to
facilitating dialogue, action and collaboration, the Forum seeks
to serve as a flagship channel for business to make genuine
contributions to climate change negotiations annually.
In particular, signatories are welcome to contribute to the fol-
lowing new opportunities and workstreams:
•
National Adaptation Dialogues: Global Compact Local
Network-led dialogues for companies and local policymakers
to enhance adaptation efforts on-the-ground, including
throughout the supply chain and communities.
•
Responsible Corporate Engagement on Climate Policy:
Guidance on the nature and implications of corporate
interaction within climate policy, including an engagement
framework to help business play a positive and reinforcing
role in achieving robust climate change policy.
•
Climate and Energy Action Hub: A web-based portal that
enables various stakeholders to collectively accelerate
progress on climate and energy.
Upcoming