New certification challenges Carbon Trust with three per cent emissions cut
Greenwise Staff
13th May 2011
An Endiburgh-based consultancy has gained Environment Agency approval for its carbon reduction scheme, which it says goes further than any other certified scheme helping firms cut their emissions.
The
Carbon Masters Standard (CMS), will require companies and organisations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of three per cent every year. It has been approved by the
Environment Agency and goes further than the six existing carbon emissions reduction and certification schemes, which are all based on levels set by the
Carbon Trust. Existing schemes, such as the Carbon Trust Standard, require firms and public bodies to cut absolute emissions by any amount and up to 2.5 per cent.
"[This] represents a 'best in class standard," said Kevin Houston, chief executive of Carbon Masters. "Organisations achieving the standard will be recognised for doing the right thing in tackling climate change."
Compliance levels
The CMS has three levels of
compliance. Like other standards, the first two measure emissions relative to output by monitoring and reducing usage of gas and electricity, on-site fuel and fuel from company-owned
transport. But the highest level, the Carbon Masters Gold Standard requires participants to monitor and reduce a range of additional sources of carbon output, including business travel and waste with a target of cutting their absolute emissions by three per cent every year.
Carbon Reduction CommitmentFrom next April, businesses and organisations participating in the Government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) will begin having to pay a carbon tax to the Treasury. Carbon Masters has calculated that the biggest companies could pay more than £20 million-a-year for the environmental levy unless they reduce their carbon footprint in the next 12 months.
"Increased Government regulation, heightened investor scrutiny of carbon-related risk as well as volatile energy prices are leading many organisations to want to assess their carbon impact and begin taking steps to reduce it. The Carbon Masters Standard is designed to assist companies to do this," said Houston.
Scotland
As well as being approved by the Environment Agency, the CMS is also the first scheme to be approved for an organisation based in Scotland where carbon reduction targets are higher than those in the rest of the UK.
The Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond described the CMS as an "excellent initiative" that would "help Scotland as we work to achieve our low carbon future and lead the global renewables revolution."
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