Mandatory Carbon Emissions Reporting

From October 1^st 2013 all publicly quoted UK incorporated companies must measure and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its directors’ report alongside its financial statements for the first financial year ending on or after the 30^th September 2013. This is likely to increase the reporting requirements on facilities in Ireland owned by publicly quoted UK parent companies.

Furthermore they must also include additional information on human rights issues, and gender representation across the company in a separate strategic report.

The new UK regulation states the companies must report the annual quantity of emissions for activities for which they are responsible, including the combustion of fuel and the operation of any facility.

Companies must also report emissions resulting from the purchase of electricity, heat, steam or cooling by the company for its own use in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents. 

This means that included emissions to be measured and reported on will be those equivalent to Greenhouse Gas Protocol scopes 1 (direct emissions) and scope 2 (indirect emissions). Scope 3 emissions inclusion is optional, for example, emissions from leased vehicles.

Emissions (equivalent of scope 1 and 2) from global operations for which the reporting company is responsible must also be included. Therefore UK companies with overseas operations will require a set of global emission factors. 

Any excluded or missing emissions or information must be highlighted and explained within the report.

Emissions from all Kyoto greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride) must be included, but reported as CO₂ equivalent.