Still not green enough
July 1st 2008

In a survey carried out by the British Safety Council (BSC) half of Britain's bosses admit that they are not doing enough to tackle climate change, while two-thirds of employees want employers to urgently cut carbon emissions.

The survey asked 1000 UK employees and 250 businesses leaders about their attitudes to safety and environmental issues at work. The report revealed younger workers in particular believed their bosses were too slow in taking action to protect the environment. Only two in five thought their firm would actually take action on climate change in the next 12 months.

The survey revealed that while 80% of businesses say they recycle paper and half seek to cut energy use, their employees want more action in the face of the urgent need to cut global carbon emissions. Chay Champness, deputy chief executive of the BSC, comments "Businesses are beginning to embrace the need and realise the business benefits of 'going green' - recycling being an obvious example. But a further step change is needed for businesses and their employees to make a far more significant contribution to protecting our environment through such measures as audits and environmental supply chain management.

"If the UK is to meet its carbon reduction target of 60% by 2050 at an affordable cost, then action will need to begin immediately. This survey highlights the urgency with which business in the UK must act in order to be ready for the opportunities of a new low carbon economy."

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