The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Stillnoclearplanonclimateprinciples
Climate risk and responsible business principles are being discussed in Britain’s boardrooms, but the majority of companies have yet to implement a clear plan, according to new research from KPMG.
The firm questioned more than 160 business leaders, representing a range of industries from across the UK, on their environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) credentials.
When asked if climate change was a top priority, 82% said it was already being actively discussed, or on the boardroom agenda. But, questioned on whether they had a clear view of the risks ahead and how to tackle them, only 8% reported having a fully- fledged plan in place, with 89% in early stage discussions and 3% not at all.
KPMG UK’s head of ESG, Sue Bonney, said: “Talk now on any post- pandemic recovery almost always includes climate change at its heart. But our survey suggests that, while many businesses are taking ESG seriously, there is a long way to go before we can truly say that everyone is placing it at the centre of their future strategic growth plans.
“Throughout lockdown, millions of daily commutes, flights and construction works ground to a halt, visibly transforming the environment around us. But, amazingly, the reduction in emissions for this year will still only be less than 10%, just showing the scale of the challenge.”