21 January, 2014 – Companies are increasingly recognizing climate risk in their supply chains, but investment in emissions reductions programs is going down, according to research published today by CDP and Accenture (NYSE: ACN). Importantly, a clear link is established between stalling progress on emissions reductions within supply chains and the uncertain regulatory framework.
According to the report, Collaborative Action on Climate Risk, ever more companies are reporting on their emissions reductions programs and there are clear financial benefits from investment in sustainability measures. However, average monetary savings from emissions reductions efforts have fallen 44 percent in the past 12 months. The report points to an ever widening gap – highlighted last year – between measures taken by large corporates who are members of CDP’s supply chain program and those by suppliers.
The research is based on information from 2,868 companies including some of the world’s largest corporates, reflecting a rise in participation of more than a fifth since last year. These produced 14 percent of 2013’s global industrial emissions1. The 64 CDP supply chain members behind the request to this supply chain represent a combined annual spending power of almost US$1.15 trillion.
Almost three quarters of companies identified a current or future risk related to climate change, according to the report, while 56 percent of companies said that consumers are becoming more receptive to low-carbon products and services. Regulatory uncertainty is making companies cautious about investing in emissions reductions and supply chain sustainability. Ninety percent of companies that identify a current or future risk cited regulatory risk as a barrier to investment.
Investment in emissions reductions programs has declined in the past year and is shorter term in focus, according to respondents. Seven out of 10 sectors report investment falling from earlier years. Shorter pay-back initiatives (less than three years) are on the rise with these almost doubling between 2011 and 2013. The average sum invested per reporting company has dropped 22 percent since last year.
To address policy uncertainty, the survey asked which policy programs would be most supported by businesses. Of the companies reporting engagement with policy makers, support was strongest for policies promoting energy efficiency, and clean energy generation, supported by 81 percent of responses. Mandatory carbon reporting was supported by 67 percent, but cap and trade programs received the unqualified support of just 43 percent of responses.
The report reveals that the most important determinant of improved emissions reduction performance is collaboration across the supply chain. There is enormous scope for more collaboration, with program participants identifying 2,186 collaborative opportunities. Additionally, companies that engage with two or more suppliers, customers or other partners are more than twice as likely both to see a financial return from their emissions reduction investments and to reduce emissions.
The CDP and Accenture analysis shows that companies are often misdirecting their emissions reduction efforts with investment not closely correlated with proven emissions or monetary savings. Suppliers and member companies are at odds: suppliers identified process emission reduction and product design as the most promising collaborative approaches. Member companies on the other hand favour behavioral change initiatives and transportation and fleet investments.
To address this, a new CDP supply chain initiative has been launched to incentivize suppliers: Action Exchange2 will drive targeted action on the most cost effective emissions reductions. Companies that have already joined the initiative and are asking their suppliers to participate include Bank of America, L’Oreal, Philips and Walmart, with significant returns anticipated.
Questioned for the first time by CDP on water risk, suppliers recognize the need for a broader view of supply chain sustainability, with linkages made between water and carbon emissions. More than half the companies cite water scarcity as the greatest water-related concern.
CDP’s chief executive officer Paul Simpson says: “This report establishes that although companies recognize that climate and water risks are on the rise, a mixed regulatory regime is making decisive action difficult. However growing participation in our supply chain program and the positive reception to Action Exchange demonstrates that businesses want to leverage their relationships with their suppliers to realize opportunities and minimize climate and water related risks.
“When governments introduce a more realistic global price on carbon we expect significantly more investment in emissions reductions from corporates.”
“This report provides clear evidence that those who are most transparent about their climate change risks are more likely to achieve the greatest emissions reductions,” said Gary Hanifan, global sustainability lead for supply chain, Accenture. “And they are also more likely to enjoy monetary savings as a result of their responses to climate change risks. But the return on investment by the most proactive companies will not reach its full potential unless those companies can encourage their suppliers to follow their lead.”
Summary of key findings:
Key findings of this year’s report include:
•Companies must assess the scope of the climate challenge
•Collaboration along the supply chain is crucial
•Staff, suppliers and customers must be more effectively motivated
•Companies must take a wider view of supply chain sustainability
•Recommendations include strategies like engaging in the policy process
References
1 Reported emissions percentage accounts for direct scope 1 emissions. Total global emissions as based on the World Resources Institute CAIT2.0 2009.
2 The Institute for Industrial Productivity and the University of Minnesota’s NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise (NiSE) at the Institute on the Environment will conduct the analysis in partnership with the CDP initiative. The initiative will also involve identifying and selecting technology and service providers to undertake the projects identified. While the initiative will come at no cost to participating suppliers, they will be required to give serious consideration to the opportunities identified.
About CDP
CDP is an international, not-for-profit organization providing the only global system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information. CDP works with market forces, including 722 institutional investors with assets of US$87 trillion, to motivate companies to disclose their impacts on the environment and natural resources and take action to reduce them. CDP now holds the largest collection globally of primary climate change, water and forest risk commodities information and puts these insights at the heart of strategic business, investment and policy decisions. Please visit www.cdp.net or follow us @CDP to find out more.
About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with approximately 281,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$28.6 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2013. Its home page is www.accenture.com.