This White Paper, commissioned by RWE npower, comes on the back of new research which revealed that many businesses are confused by what the Low Carbon Economy is.

It is one of the first reports published on the Low Carbon Economy in the UK and provides an overview of the impact of human behaviour on climate change, and the necessity of making the transition to a Low Carbon Economy to avoid dangerous climate change.

The White Paper points to Government data on UK emission trends – CO2 emissions have risen every year since 2002 – to underline the gap between the current response to climate change and the Government’s long-term target to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 60% by 2050.

Despite the fact that many businesses already view the current climate change policy burden as oppressive, if dangerous climate change is to be avoided, a more significant response is imperative. The message for Britain’s businesses is clear: forward thinking companies, no matter what size or sector, need to prepare for the Low Carbon Economy now.

In making the transition to a Low Carbon Economy, the White Paper draws a simple conclusion: energy management remains the best and most effective method of reducing carbon emissions. This will be particularly important if the Low Carbon Economy will involve some sort of premium on energy sources, as using energy more efficiently will address cost as well as climate risk.

The White Paper goes on to speculate what the Low Carbon Economy might mean for UK business. It points out that leading companies are already reducing emissions in response to a variety of drivers.

Institutional investors are starting to ask questions about the risks and opportunities that climate change poses to their investments, and the environmental commitments of firms such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Marks & Spencer will soon begin to be felt throughout their supply chains.

This white paper was commissioned by RWE npower