Why 10:10 means 3:10 for businesses

Businesses interested in signing up to the new 10:10 campaign, but daunted by the prospect of cutting carbon emissions by 10 per cent inside a year, could still join the nationwide initiative if they commit to reducing emissions by just three per cent during 2010.

Launched yesterday at an event at Tate Modern, the 10:10 campaign aims to sign up tens of thousands of individuals, businesses and public sector bodies to a commitment to cut their carbon emissions by a tenth during 2010.

Franny Armstrong, founder of the 10:10 campaign and director of the climate change documentary Age of Stupid, said that once the campaign has reached a critical mass of supporters it will challenge the government to also sign up to the 10 per cent target. "We have left it terrifyingly late to start tackling climate change but there is just about still time as long as everyone gets involved straight away," she added.

However, the 10 per cent target is likely to prove extremely challenging for businesses to achieve, particularly if they have already undertaken some energy efficiency measures, and as a result the group has provided a series of concessions to the private sector designed to encourage support for the campaign.

Under the rules governing the 10:10 pledge, businesses signing up will commit to try and cut emissions by 10 per cent during a 12-month period and encourage their staff to do likewise, but they will still be listed as a successful participant of the scheme if at the end of the year they have demonstrated an emission reduction of at least three per cent.

Businesses joining the 10:10 group will also be able to select the starting date for their emission reduction year to keep it in line with their financial year, and aim to deliver cuts in carbon intensity rather than overall emission reductions.

"The ultimate aim of 10:10 is to achieve a 10 per cent cut in your company’s total emissions, compared to the total emissions of the previous year," the group said on its website. "However, operational emissions are often tied to turnover. If a business rapidly gets bigger, its emissions will tend to shoot up; if it contracts, its emissions will tend to fall. For this reason, the 10:10 target for businesses is relative to revenue."

Any business signing up to the 10:10 commitment will, however, be required to report on their emissions from electricity use, electricity, on-site fuel use such as gas, road transport and air travel using the campaign groups online carbon calculator tool. Emission reductions achieved through carbon offsets or green tariffs will not be allowed to count towards the 10 per cent target.

The group said there will be no public league table or independent audits to measure firms' emission reduction claims, but businesses will be required to report their performance through the 10:10 group if they wish to be listed as a successful participant.

Over 300 firms have already signed up to the campaign, including energy giants British Gas, EDF, E.ON and Scottish and Southern, retailer the Cooperative, software firm Oracle, and clean tech companies Good Energy and Solarcentury.