IEMA "Delighted" To See Mandatory Carbon Reporting Removed From Government Review

Following a concern which emerged in early 2014 that a ground-breaking environmental initiative was under review less than one year after being introduced, IEMA has today voiced satisfaction in finding that the latest proposals no longer include reviewing mandatory carbon reporting.

In February, IEMA expressed concern that that mandatory carbon (GHG) reporting for all listed UK organisations was already under threat as part of Defra’s Smarter Guidance and Data review. The initial publication of the review indicated that mandatory carbon reporting could be under evaluation, despite only being introduced – following a long-running programme of consultation in which IEMA and its members played a key role – in October 2013.

Government conducted a consultation which closed in early March and with the latest strategic reform plan published this month, IEMA’s initial concerns appear to have addressed as the revised plan no longer includes any reference to reviewing the role of mandatory carbon reporting.

Commenting, Nick Blyth, Policy and Practice Lead at IEMA, said: “Just two months ago we were very concerned to hear Government was so quickly reconsidering its own policy. The benefits of carbon reporting are well understood and critically arise over a medium-term horizon. We are delighted that the Government’s latest review proposals no longer include mandatory carbon reporting.”

Calling for a consistent and developmental approach, Blyth continued: “We call on Ministers to maintain their commitment to this important policy and also to the Government’s earlier stated intention to consider extending mandatory carbon reporting to all large businesses”.

IEMA and our Members have been heavily involved in the development and implementation of mandatory carbon reporting, with around 70% of professionals surveyed by IEMA saying that GHG reporting delivers cost savings, and 77% saying that it leads to environmental benefits. Evidence submitted by IEMA was used by Defra in the original planning of the scheme and IEMA encouraged its members to take part on the Smarter Guidance and Data consultation.