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Jackson, Oliver John (2008) An investigation into the drivers and barriers for carbon emissions measurment and reduction: A stakeholder perspective. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

In recent years climate change policy and carbon management has grown dramatically on the public agenda. Where in the past, emphasis has been focussed more on the science involved, and to what extent we as humans are affecting the environment, it is now widely accepted that anthropogenic actions are changing our climate. This in turn has led to a large scale response from business as a means of adjusting to the change in societal norms. Whilst in the past, response to climate change has been primarily concerned with political and non-market activity, huge market opportunity is now beginning to emerge.

This study looks at what is arguably the most widespread response to climate change; carbon emissions reduction and at how this is driven by organisations both internally and externally. The research studies six different companies from the utilities sector and investigates the main drivers and barriers that help to understand why a firm may adopt carbon management policy.

Findings suggested that both stakeholder and non stakeholder factors are driving this business response. From the stakeholder perspective, it was both clients and Government that were perceived to be the biggest push, whilst NGOs, suppliers and investors were considered less influential. The identification of stakeholders as drivers appears to be very much dependent on their ability to obtain power, legitimacy and urgency, as suggested by Mitchel et al (1997). Those stakeholders possessing all three attributes provided the greatest motivation for companies to adopt carbon management whilst the stakeholders with fewer attributes were considered with less importance. Of the non-stakeholder drivers, the findings suggest that a strong business case for carbon management is emerging, with companies perceiving climate change more in terms of opportunity than risk. Opportunity was realised in terms of profit maximisation, cost reduction, waste minimisation, enhanced competitive advantage, maintaining a sustained client base and attracting new talent.

Item Type:	Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Keywords:	Carbon management, corporate social responsibility, stakeholders
Depositing User:	EP, Services
Date Deposited:	03 Feb 2009
Last Modified:	04 Jan 2018 01:32
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/22104

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