The UK's biggest power companies are failing to show leadership on climate change and to adopt cleaner business models to deliver a sustainable low-carbon UK economy, according to two new reports commissioned by WWF-UK. The reports compare the climate change targets and policies of the six biggest power companies.RWE npower and EDF Energy performed poorly in both reports, showing the least progress in addressing climate change issues.
The UK's biggest power companies are failing to show leadership on climate change and to adopt cleaner business models to deliver a sustainable low-carbon UK economy, according to two new reports commissioned by WWF-UK. The reports compare the climate change targets and policies of the six biggest power companies.
RWE npower and EDF Energy performed poorly in both reports, showing the least progress in addressing climate change issues.
Top of the green league table were Centrica and Scottish Power which showed more progressive approaches and ambitious targets. Centrica performed well with regard to CO2 emissions and its work to promote energy efficiency, while Scottish Power demonstrated the highest investment in new renewable energy sources.
"If you combined the best elements of Centrica's and Scottish Power's strategies, you might begin to see a real leader pushing towards a green and efficient power sector," said Keith Allott, Head of Climate Change at WWF-UK. "But none of the companies are yet showing the vision we need to protect the climate. The power sector's emissions have been rising in recent years, and many companies are focusing on building new fossil fuel or nuclear stations rather than providing efficient energy services and clean renewable energy."
This is the third year running that WWF-UK has commissioned independent energy consultants Innovest to benchmark the big six power companies - Centrica, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy, EDF Energy, E.ON UK and RWE npower - according to their performance on greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
This year we also evaluated the companies' positions on 10 key issues at the heart of public debate on climate and energy policy. The results echoed the benchmarking report, with Centrica the only company to fully support mandatory carbon disclosure and improvements to the EU ETS.
Top of the green league table were Centrica and Scottish Power which showed more progressive approaches and ambitious targets. Centrica performed well with regard to CO2 emissions and its work to promote energy efficiency, while Scottish Power demonstrated the highest investment in new renewable energy sources.
"If you combined the best elements of Centrica's and Scottish Power's strategies, you might begin to see a real leader pushing towards a green and efficient power sector," said Keith Allott, Head of Climate Change at WWF-UK. "But none of the companies are yet showing the vision we need to protect the climate. The power sector's emissions have been rising in recent years, and many companies are focusing on building new fossil fuel or nuclear stations rather than providing efficient energy services and clean renewable energy."
This is the third year running that WWF-UK has commissioned independent energy consultants Innovest to benchmark the big six power companies - Centrica, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy, EDF Energy, E.ON UK and RWE npower - according to their performance on greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
This year we also evaluated the companies' positions on 10 key issues at the heart of public debate on climate and energy policy. The results echoed the benchmarking report, with Centrica the only company to fully support mandatory carbon disclosure and improvements to the EU ETS.
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Keith Allott added: "The power sector, which accounts for more than 30% of our carbon emissions, will need to decarbonise completely by 2050 if the UK is to play its part in avoiding dangerous climate change. Investors should be looking at these reports to see which companies are waking up to that reality and which are lagging behind."
WWF is asking the government and power companies to support its call for UK emissions to be cut by at least 80% by 2050 under the framework of the UK Climate Change Bill.
Keith Allott added: "The power sector, which accounts for more than 30% of our carbon emissions, will need to decarbonise completely by 2050 if the UK is to play its part in avoiding dangerous climate change. Investors should be looking at these reports to see which companies are waking up to that reality and which are lagging behind."
WWF is asking the government and power companies to support its call for UK emissions to be cut by at least 80% by 2050 under the framework of the UK Climate Change Bill.
