New carbon duties await firms

BRITAIN’S largest companies will need to lay bare the size of their carbon footprint alongside their statutory financial results in their annual reports from next year.

Under new rules, the Government will force large private companies and those quoted on the London Stock Exchange to account for their energy use, carbon emissions and their energy efficiency measures in the drive towards a zero-carbon economy. The new rules take effect for the financial years from April 2019 and replace a defunct carbon reporting regime which was heavily criticised by busi- ness for needlessly adding layers of bureaucracy at a cost of around £20m.

Companies will face rising pressure to lower their car- bon emissions in the years ahead.

By 2030, ministers expect businesses and industry to slash their carbon intensity by 20pc.