Survey: The State Of Climate Change Strategies

Published: 31 March 2008

50 interviews, 34 figures, 45 pages

Introduction

Based on 50 interviews with climate change leaders in the UK’s largest firms this ground-breaking report provides rich data and analysis of trends in climate change strategy, governance, funding, implementation and business results. Essential reading for individuals responsible for climate change in large corporates and for suppliers who need to understand the current state of UK firms’ thinking and investments.

How You Benefit

The survey data and analysis offer new insights into the current climate change thinking of leaders in corporate responsibility, sustainability and environmental strategy. The opinons, beliefs and expectations of these key decision makers are presented, analyzed and contrasted in 34 separate figures. Individuals recently charged with leading their firm’s climate change initiatives will get a detailed understanding of what other firms are focused on enabling them to benchmark their own plans. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGIES

The Risks Of Inaction Now Outweigh The Costs Of Action
Small Shifts In Buying Behaviour Point To Big Future Trends
Renewable Energy Costs Converge With Fossil Fuel Costs
Growing Acceptance That Climate Change Threatens Value Chains

SURVEY ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Demographics Of Survey Participants
One-Third Of Large UK Firms Lack A Climate Change Strategy
Climate Change Strategy Is Not Connected With Corporate Strategy
Management Dashboards Have Incomplete Climate Change Data
Climate Change Initiatives Span Brand, Responsibility And Opportunity
The Corporate Focus Is On Mitigation Not Adaptation
Product Development Teams In Preparation Mode For 2009
IT Departments: Down The Climate Change List But Not Out
Governance And Management Of Climate Change Is Embryonic
A Quarter Of Firms Will Have Dedicated Climate Change Managers In 2008
Unproven Return On Investment Is The Primary Implementation Barrier
Executive Compensation Not Linked With Climate Change
Verification And Assurance Top The Climate Change Suppliers List
Energy Efficiency Needs Building Design, Environmental Consulting And IT
Renewable Energy Suppliers Critical For 2008 Success
Reputation Management Requires Not For Profits And Marketing Agencies
Carbon Offset Providers Will Not Be Key Suppliers In 2008
Carbon Trading Unimportant In 2008, Bigger Expectations For 2009
Management Consultants And Insurers: Unimportant For 2008 Initiatives
Spending Draws Primarily On Corporate And Business Unit Budgets
Spending On Climate Change-Related Initiatives Is Set To Boom
Key Drivers Of Climate Change Initiatives: Executives And Energy Prices
Government Regulation, Competitors And Investors Influence Firms’ Plans
Media, Customers And Employees: Little Influence On Initiatives
Extreme Weather And Insurance Assessments Are Not Priority Items
Expected Business Results From Climate Change Initiatives Are Sky High
Sales Will Not Get A Boost From Climate Change Initiatives In 2008
B2C Firms Express More Confidence In Climate Change Results
Industry Leadership On Climate Change Delivers B2B Cost Advantage
Climate Change Industry Leadership Creates Differentiation Advantage
Firms Expect Competitive Advantage From Climate Change Leadership
Ambitious Climate Change Plans Face Challenges In 2008

ACTIONABLE ADVICE

Understand Your Position On The Mitigation Learning Curve
For Enduring Change, Foster A Pro-Environment Company Culture
Track Shifting Customers Attitudes And Behaviour
Challenge Long-Standing Assumptions About Business As Usual
Create An “Adaptation Team” To Design The Future Firm
Push Responsibility For Climate Change Into Operations
Invest In Assurance Of Climate Change Management Systems

TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Industry sectors of survey participants
Figure 2. Revenues of survey participants
Figure 3. Employee numbers of survey participants
Figure 4. Job titles of survey participants
Figure 5. Do you think climate change is a strategic issue for your firm?
Figure 6. Do you have a documented climate change strategy?
Figure 7. Do you have a documented climate change strategy? (B2C vs B2B)
Figure 8. To what extent is your climate change strategy integrated with your corporate strategy?
Figure 9. To what extent is your climate change strategy integrated with your corporate strategy? (B2C vs B2B)
Figure 10. To what extent are climate change objectives integrated into your annual operating plans?
Figure 11. To what extent are climate change metrics integrated into your management reporting systems?
Figure 12. What are the most significant climate change related initiatives your firm launched in 2007?
Figure 13. How important will each business function be for your climate change initiatives in 2008?
Figure 14. How important will each business function be for your climate change initiatives in 2008? (B2C vs B2B)
Figure 15. Which people and groups manage your climate change initiatives?
Figure 16. In 2008 will your firm have at least one individual dedicated to climate change?
Figure 17. In 2008 will your firm have at least one individual dedicated to climate change? (B2C vs B2B)
Figure 18. How important are the following factors in blocking your firm’s climate change initiatives?
Figure 19. Do executives at your firm have climate change metrics in their financial incentives?
Figure 20. How important will these suppliers be for your firm’s climate change initiatives in 2008?
Figure 21. How important will these suppliers be for your firm’s climate change initiatives in 2008? (B2C vs B2B)
Figure 22. Which budgets do you use to fund your climate change initiatives?
Figure 23. How much will your climate change related spending alter between 2007 and 2008?
Figure 24. How important are these factors as drivers of your firm’s climate change initiatives?
Figure 25. How important are these factors as drivers of your firm’s climate change initiatives? (B2C vs B2B)
Figure 26. How likely is it that your firm’s climate change initiatives will achieve these business results in 2008?
Figure 27. How likely is it that your firm’s climate change initiatives will achieve these business results in 2008? (B2C vs B2B)
Figure 28. Will industry leadership on climate change offer a cost advantage in 2008?
Figure 29. Will industry leadership on climate change offer a cost advantage in 2008? (B2C vs B2B)
Figure 30. Will industry leadership on climate change offer a differentiation advantage in 2008?
Figure 31. Will industry leadership on climate change offer a differentiation advantage in 2008? (B2C vs B2B)
Figure 32. Will industry leadership on climate change offer a competitive differentiation advantage in 2008?
Figure 33. Will industry leadership on climate change offer a competitive differentiation advantage in 2008? (B2C vs B2B)
Figure 34. What are the challenges to making your firm’s climate change initiatives successful in 2008?