Aldersgate Group newsletter: March 2010

Businesses and MPs demand clear commitment for mandatory carbon reporting

The Aldersgate Group wrote an open letter to Business Secretary of State Lord Mandelson in January, calling for greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting to be made mandatory for all large UK organisations as soon as possible. Over 50 MPs, including Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Conservative Shadow Climate Change Minister Greg Barker MP, signed the letter, along with a diverse range of organisations including Aviva, BSkyB, The Cooperative, Barratt Homes, National Grid, United Utilities, BIFFA, Friends of the Earth, WWF and Reed Elsevier.

Lord Mandelson described the letter as “a timely contribution to the discussion on this issue.” He reiterated the Government’s commitment to encouraging companies to report and advised that the review into the wider costs and objectives of reporting is now underway. Lord Mandelson concluded, “The Government would like to work closely with the Aldersgate Group and other stakeholders in the development of this policy.”

At a recent AG event, Ed Miliband also hinted that there could be a commitment sooner than 2012, read more.

AG calls for ‘Beyond Carbon’ economic strategy

Last month the AG launched our third and final report on accelerating the transition to a low carbon economy. Building on our previous studies into green finance and low carbon jobs and skills, “Beyond Carbon” discussed what a resource efficient economy would look like and how we will get there. At the launch event, Hilary Benn MP commented that “It is time finally, to close that loop and … confine the word ‘waste’ to the bin of history where it belongs.”

To read the full report, click here. Speaker presentations can be accessed here.

Only two weeks to go until BASE

The Base show is now only two weeks away. With 120 speakers (including Ed Miliband, Justin King, Jonathan Porritt and Vince Cable), 50 fringe events and 30 conference modules, it will discuss the opportunities to business in becoming sustainable, while equipping them with the tools and networks to do so. The AG are official associate patners.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.baseshow.co.uk. 

Parties develop proposals for Green Investment Bank (GIB)

The three main political parties are all developing proposals for a GIB, a key recommendation from the AG’s Financing the Transition report.

The AG have recently met with Infrastructure UK and further details are likely to be published in the upcoming Budget. Meanwhile, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, made a commitment to create Britain’s first GIB in a speech in February, read here. In a speech to Green Alliance, Vince Cable MP has recognised the UK’s need for a new central bank. “I have been promoting the idea of an Infrastructure Bank … [and] part of its remit would be environmental.” To read his full speech, click here. 

Environmental awards seek businesses that are leading the pack

The Aldersgate Group is teaming up with edie, Europe's biggest website for those with a professional interest in the Environment, to help promote its Green Corporate Initiative award which aims to highlight those projects that go beyond good practice and act as exemplars for others to follow. Previous winners have included Siemens for a project that sought to reduce employees' impact by looking at transport use and Mitsubishi for a scheme that tackled both the company's own carbon emissions and those of its customers.

This is part of edie’s Awards for Environmental Excellence. Closing date for entries is May 26. Full details can be found at www.edie.net/awards.

New members

The Group is delighted to welcome PepsiCo, MITIE and Professor Paul Ekins as our newest members. For membership enquires, please contact andrew.raingold@aldersgategroup.org.uk.