Deloitte signs Copenhagen CommuniquéProfessional services firm aims for 25% cut in CO2 emissions by 2012DOWNLOAD |
Diegem, (date). Deloitte Belgium announced today that it has signed the ‘Copenhagen Communiqué’. Belgium’s biggest provider of professional services also sets itself ambitious goals for its own environmental programme.
The ‘Copenhagen Communiqué’ is an initiative by the Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders’ Group on Climate Change and Cambridge University. Further to the international negotiations taking place in December in Copenhagen, the world of business is using this concise document (two A4 pages) to appeal to governments to reach a worldwide climate agreement to replace the Kyoto protocol, which expires in 2010. The Communiqué sets out a number of strong measures aimed at approaching climate change on a global scale.
The ‘Copenhagen Communiqué’ has already been signed by 500 major companies, including Allianz, GE, Nike, Philips and Unilever. From Deloitte’s viewpoint, it involves far more than just showing commitment. A strong and evenly balanced international treaty on climate is sure to have an effect on local policy. This is essential if the world is to meet both short-term and long-term targets for reducing CO2 emissions, while creating a low-carbon economy. The treaty will bring many opportunities with it and encourage companies to become involved more in what they do best: invest and innovate and hence introduce new, affordable and environmentally-friendly products and services to the marketplace.
But the Belgian company is not sitting on its hands, waiting for the negotiations in Copenhagen to happen. Deloitte’s “Carbon Advisory Services” already ensure that businesses are guided properly in meeting the economic challenges that go hand in hand with climate change. Deloitte has for some time been offering carbon management services to assist clients in analysing and reducing their carbon footprint. In addition, setting up and managing a strategy for Corporate Social Responsibility is an integral part of Deloitte’s Corporate Sustainability Services. “Taking a greener way forward also means boosting competitiveness,” says Rik Vanpeteghem. “It is time to put the carbon issue on the agenda of management committees. That way we can help our clients to manage their CO2 and stay competitive in the sustainable economy of tomorrow.”
Deloitte has also launched its own initiative, called ‘Greening the Green Dot’. ‘It involves implementing a practical plan of action: reducing Deloitte’s impact on the environment, not only by changing the behaviour of staff, but also using innovative ideas and solutions to work towards greener outcomes and environmentally-friendly alternatives.
“The aim is to measure and audit our carbon footprint every year in order to achieve our Green Agenda,” says Rik Vanpeteghem, CEO Deloitte Belgium. “Currently, our company’s CO2 emissions can be attributed 60% to mobility, 19% to air travel, 19% to energy consumption in our offices and 2% to waste. We aim to reduce our carbon footprint by 25% per employee by 2012. It’s ambitious, but achievable.”
Deloitte is constantly striving to improve in the area of mobility by making its fleet environmentally friendly, revitalising the attractiveness of carpooling, encouraging teleworking and promoting the benefits of cycling to and from work. Teleconferencing is encouraged rather than travelling to meetings in other countries, Eco-Flight is recommended for plane travel, and employees are advised to consider the train as an alternative.
The company also seeks out innovative solutions for its consumption of electricity and gas by implementing a specific Energy Management System and carrying out energy scans. By running targeted awareness campaigns, Deloitte is seeking to achieve a change in mindset.
Last updated:
Deloitte signs Copenhagen Communiqué
(34.66 KB)
Material on this website is © 2013 Deloitte Global Services Limited, or a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, or one of their affiliates. See Legal for copyright and other legal information.
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.