In the past 18 months there has been a major shift in attitudes to climate change. Importantly, the need for governments, industry and individuals to rein in their energy use and consumption is being recognised on a wider scale than ever.

In EcoGeneration we often look at the incentives and schemes the Federal and State Governments are putting in place to encourage and develop renewable energy technologies and their deployment across Australia – so we thought it was about time we turned the microscope to the corporate world to take a brief look at some of the commitments being made (in many cases by major contributors to carbon dioxide emissions) to sustainability in a carbon-constrained future.

Energy

Companies involved in the broader energy sector in Australia, such as AGL, Origin Energy, BHP Billiton, Santos and Woodside have been among the most vocal in sharing their commitment to reducing the impacts of climate change.

These companies and others in the sector are realising that emitting massive amounts of greenhouse gases while producing energy from sources such as coal and oil - without thinking twice - is no longer acceptable.

AGL’s greenhouse gas reduction strategies are largely focused on purchasing electricity from renewable projects such as the Canunda and Starfish Hill wind farms, and investment in gas, cogeneration, biogas, wind and abatement projects.

The company also has targets for neutralising greenhouse gas emissions from its operations and supports the introduction of a long-term emissions reduction target and a national emissions-trading scheme.

Origin Energy advocates regulatory frameworks to encourage investment in clean energy technologies. The company is particularly focused on “policies that advocate early action and complement longer term efforts to develop and deploy breakthrough technologies (and) market-based incentives for private investment in lower greenhouse intensive technologies”.

The focus for Santos is “lightening the footprint of our activities”. It has committed to reduce its emissions intensity by 20 per cent from 2002-08 across its portfolio.

Santos also requires all its operations to develop energy efficiency and greenhouse management plans with site-specific targets, and regularly looks for opportunities for natural gas to replace higher greenhouse gas emitting fuels.

Woodside’s greenhouse policy, released in June, promotes natural gas as the fuel that will help the global transition to a lower greenhouse footprint, and advocates legislation that results in accreditation of emissions reductions.

Industry

The fact that some of our biggest and most profitable industries are also among the biggest greenhouse polluters has long been a problem in the fight against climate change.

Progress is being made however; more companies are realising the need to address and reduce their carbon footprint as consumers become more aware and concerned with the damage being done to our environment by big industry.

Australia’s biggest company, BHP Billiton, was among those who recently got on board, launching a revised climate change policy in June.

Key actions in the policy include a commitment of $US300 million over the next five years to support low emissions technology development, internal “energy excellence” projects, emissions abatement, and assistance to governments and other stakeholders on the design of effective and equitable climate change policies including market-based mechanisms such as emissions trading.

The policy states that BHP Billiton will “take action within our own businesses and work with governments, industry and other stakeholders to address this global challenge and find lasting solutions consistent with our goal of zero harm”.

Global giant Rio Tinto also recently stepped up its commitment to reducing the greenhouse impact of its operations.

According to the company: “Our climate change position commits us to reducing our emissions, developing low emission product pathways and engaging with government and stakeholders to advocate sound and efficient policies.”

And the Virgin Group, another massive worldwide operation, has also been involved in a range of climate initiatives. Chief among these was a pledge from its Chairman Sir Richard Branson last September of $3 billion over 10 years to address the challenge of global warming.

“We have to wean ourselves off our dependence on coal and fossil fuels,” he said. “Our generation has the knowledge, it has the financial resources and, as importantly, it has the will power to do so.”

The banking sector is also scrambling to highlight its commitment to sustainability.

ANZ is targeting carbon neutrality for its Australian and New Zealand operations by the end of 2009, to be achieved by sourcing electricity exclusively from renewable energy projects. A tender process to identify preferred suppliers will commence late in 2007.

The bank will also significantly reduce its environmental impact by designing its new building at 833 Collins Street in Melbourne’s Docklands to seek the highest possible environmental rating of 6-star Green Star, which signifies ‘world leadership’ in green building design. The $512 million project – the largest single office development in Australia – will create 83,550 sq m of office space at 833 Collins Street, which will be home to 5,500 ANZ staff from 2010.

The National Australia Bank has also committed to making its operations carbon neutral, in its case by 30 September 2010. NAB’s Australian CEO Ahmed Fahour said NAB is “committed to reducing the impact of our operations on the environment…any emissions that we can’t reduce or eliminate completely will be offset via offset credit purchases.”

Westpac has made strong, on- going commitments to environmental sustainability. It was the first Australian bank to sign up to the equator principles – a voluntary set of guidelines developed for managing social and environmental issues relating to the financing of projects. Westpac was also the first bank to join the Federal Government’s Greenhouse Challenge in 1996.

Westpac is also among the major lenders across Australia which now offer green home loans. Other lenders offering ‘green’ home loans include myrate.com.au and the Bendigo Bank. Bendigo Bank, MECU credit union and Maleny Credit Union also offer home improvement loans with reduced interest rates to buy a range of energy and water saving appliances and home fittings (i.e. solar hot water, grey water recycling, rainwater tanks, insulation, energy-efficient glazing and awnings, efficient whitegoods and appliances, and solar or wind electricity generation).

Lifestyle

The contribution the entertainment and lifestyle sectors are making to improving their carbon impact cannot be discounted, with companies and events scrambling to get on board.

The Australian Football League has gone carbon neutral; Sao Paulo fashion week was carbon neutral; www.blackle.com, a search engine powered by Google which saves energy because the screen is predominantly black has been launched; revellers at the recent Splendour in the Grass music festival could purchase ‘green’ tickets to the event; Cadbury plans to halve its total carbon footprint by 2020, and the list goes on.

Even the Vatican is getting involved, with solar panels being installed on the Paul VI Centre to power the heating, cooling and lighting needs of the building year-round.

And this is just a sample of some of the initiatives in place.

Some of these activities may seem like token gestures, but they do highlight the fact that the tide is turning. The carbon imprint of organisations, large and small, is becoming a major factor in consumer decisions.

The new ‘abatement awareness’ is showing no signs of abating. This is positive news – for our industry, and for our environment.