Business is going green
Environmentalists blame big business for being the main contributors to climate change.
Realising the tremendous impact they have on the earth, businesses have decided to do something about it by exploring new ways to tackle climate change.
Now businesses are putting a foot forward by showing there CO2 emissions to the public making them a part of the solution. Through the Carbon Disclosure Project corporations are able to make their greenhouse gas emissions available to shareholders over the internet. Greenhouse gases are believed by scientists to be one of the main causes of global climate change.
As a not-for-profit organisation the CDP believe corporations are answerable to their 
shareholders. Working with over 2,400 of the largest global corporations the CDP brings to attention of corporations the concerns of their shareholders. Paul Dickinson, Chief Executive of the CDP, thinks this process makes corporations aware of shareholders concerns on climate change.
“If you want to see what Disney, Exxon or Coca Cola emit, [shareholders] can download [corporate] responses allowing them to make their own judgement about which corporations are part of the solution and which corporations are apart of the problem.” The CDP sends out many questionnaires to corporations throughout the world. Although some don’t always respond the CDP has seen significant participation from corporations since it was launched in 2000.
Business are also beginning to hire consultants to make sure their business models take into account the effects of climate change. Anthony Day is an independent management accountant who gives keynote speeches at workshops and seminars educating businesses about the economic effects climate change can have. By stressing the significance of the science along with the importance of economic adaptation, Mr. Day believes businesses can effectively become environmentally friendly. 
Although many big businesses have begun to take on a personal role of tackling climate change, Mr. Day sees a delay in smaller businesses making this adaptation. He says, “Big businesses have more money and time to spend, as well as more opportunities to look at a whole wide range of issues. While smaller, entrepreneurial businesses are very focused on their own businesses and don’t have time to look at things they see as core issues.”
Mr. Day warns businesses must realise the importance of reducing energy consumption as company’s plan their business models around the possible threats of climate change. “Energy is involved in everything we eat, use or wear, which means if energy becomes more expensive; every product will become for expensive. Reducing is going to become very important for companies. So they’ve got to reduce what they use and recognise the inputs they get will have to be reduced as well.” As companies realise the effects of emitting greenhouse gases, they will be able to effectively address how to cut their energy consumption and move towards using more sustainable energy resources. Two areas which have become priorities for businesses as they attempt to tackle climate change.