Managing energy related green house gas emissions: What are your options?

Companies are increasingly challenged to address global climate change issues in practical ways. Firms with manufacturing operations in many countries are faced with differing and rapidly changing regulatory environments and regionally variable global climate change incentives. Key stakeholders, including socially responsible investors and influential non-government organizations, are pressing companies to disclose their CO2 emissions and act in a responsible manner on this important global issue. What should a large multinational company do first? What range of options are available to companies to begin to evaluate their energy related CO2 emissions and implement sound CO2 reduction strategies? This paper describes the business drivers and incentives relating to climate change. It will also present a range of options available to firms to consider in implementing specific energy related CO2 emission reduction options and highlight firms setting specific strategies and goals to meet certain emissions targets. The paper will reflect a review of the literature and a survey of business practices.