Several Australian investors have signed up to the 2005 Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an annual global effort to encourage the world’s largest companies to disclose their carbon emissions and the risks climate change poses to their businesses.
A questionnaire has been sent to the world’s 500 largest companies seeking information on their greenhouse gas emissions, on behalf of 143 institutional investors controlling more than $US20 trillion.
According to London-based CDP coordinator, Paul Dickinson, climate change is becoming increasingly relevant to investors.
“The numerous indications of accelerating human induced climate change make it clear that there are business risks and opportunities that have implications for the value of investments in corporations worldwide,” Dickinson said.
Examples of these indicators, according to Dickinson, include changes in weather patterns, political and regulatory momentum moving against significant carbon emitters; the development of emissions-sensitive technologies, products and services superseding those existing today; and shifts in consumer sentiment due to a corporation’s stance on climate change.
The Australian CDP signatories include BT Financial Group, its Governance Advisory Service clients VicSuper and Catholic Super Fund, and AMP Capital Investors.
