Mayday Network pulls in 3,000th member

The Prince of Wales' Mayday Network has this week welcomed its 3,000th member, further bolstering the group's position as the largest network of businesses working to improve their environmental sustainablility.

The landmark comes as the organisation today publishes its annual report, which demonstrates that despite the heightened profile of climate scepticism over the past 12 months the vast majority of firms in the network remain fully committed to action to tackle climate change.

The report, which features a survey of the network's members, found that almost two thirds were unpeturbed by both the so-called "Climategate" scandal and the failure of world leaders to deliver a binding agreement at last year's UN Copenhagen Summit.

It also revealed that three quarters of the companies in the network regard climate change as much as an opportunity as a threat to their business.

Speaking to BusinessGreen.com, Mayday Campaign director Katie Webber said that the make up of the network has changed in the last 12 months with growing numbers of small businesses joining the group.

"The increase in the number of firms reporting to us shows how the positive messages we have been using about the benefits of climate change action are having the desired effects," she said.

However, despite the upbeat outlook the report revealed that 76 per cent of firms remained sceptical about their ability to turn a profit if they were to completely cut greenhouse gas emissions from their operations.

"What this says is that people can see how to make short-term savings but not long-term ones, and they can't foresee how their business models can change," said Webber. "If you imagine not releasing any greenhouse gasses at all, then that scepticism really isn't that surprising."

The report also featured a list of six recommendations designed to help measure and report on greenhouse gas emissions and better engage suppliers, employees and customers in emission reduction efforts.