BASDA Green Charter takes on global warming - Interview with John Stokdyk for Accountingweb
BASDA has been working with John Doyle, the European Commission's sustainable development policy co-ordinator for the EU Information Society. He came across to the Softworld event to support the charter and warn business software users of the hard choices that are looming.
"When George Bush leaves the White House in January next year, there will be 3,998 days to achieve the 20% reduction. And if other OECD countries such as Japan and the US come on board, we may commit to a 30%, which scientists say may be a safer level." Doyle noted.
While the ministers are assuming that renewable sources will make up 20% of the energy mix by then, any savings will probably be offset by continuing growth in the continent's economy. To achieve what could be a one-third reduction in energy use, Europeans are going to have to look for savings in three areas: transport; domestic use; or in business.
"In the next 4,000 days, carbon emissions are going to become the most onerous and difficult overhead on businesses," Doyle predicted. "Almost certainly market forces will be part of the solution - which is Brussels-speak for price rises - but there will also be elements of compulsion, for example congestion charging."
Even factoring these drivers, chieving the 2020 target is going to be extremely difficult - and how is business software going to make a difference? "Why we welcome this wonderful initiative from BASDA is that no one measures it. There is a Carbon Disclosures Report, but it's voluntary and 100 out of the FTSE 250 didn't fill out the form."