STOCKHOLM. - 14 May 2009 - The United Nations Global Compact has welcomed 20 Scandinavian companies as new signatories to Caring for Climate, its business leadership platform on climate change. All have pledged and achieved climate neutrality.

In order to meet their commitment, the companies measured the direct greenhouse gas emissions of their operations, as well as emissions associated with their purchases of energy and indirect emissions relating to business travels. This was done in accordance with the GHG Protocol, the most widely used greenhouse gas accounting and reporting protocol for business. During the first year, the companies reduced their emissions by a total of 33 percent.

Remaining emissions were compensated through support of premium Clean Development Mechanisms, financing four certified reduction projects in developing economies - reductions that would not occur without this financing. The companies have pledged that this offset solution will not weaken their efforts to continue reducing their own emissions.

The companies have also pledged to verify their baseline emissions and publicly report on progress made.

The group of companies is part of a network known as Climate Neutral Companies. Their progress is facilitated by Svante, business software developed by Respect in Stockholm, Sweden. Svante enables companies and organizations to measure, manage and report their greenhouse gases according to the GHG Protocol.

"Climate-neutral companies provide an inspiration for business seeking to anticipate the profound changes necessary to avert climate risks," said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the Global Compact. "Complementing their own reduction efforts by supporting clean development mechanisms also helps those most vulnerable to climate change in emerging economies. We welcome their experience. It further strengthens the impact of Caring for Climate."

"We are very pleased that the United Nations has highlighted the work we do and regard these companies as corporate role models in the fight against climate change," said Respect CEO Ebba Lindsö . "We see how many companies are interested in taking responsibility for their climate impact and we have developed excellent programs that provides them with a comparable, systematic and straightforward way to do this."

List of new signatories to the UN Global Compact and Caring for Climate:

• Alteco
  
• Bergendal Meetings
  
• Bring CityMail Sweden
  
• Cargo Center Sweden
  
• Edita Boberg
  
• Edita House
  
• Edita Västra Aros
  
• KanEnergi
  
• Kempartner
  
• MittMedia Print
  
• Procivitas privata gymnasium
  
• Respect
  
• Roslagens Sparbank
  
• Radisson SAS SkyCity Hotel
  
• Radisson SAS Arlandia Hotel
  
• Sydsvenska Dagbladet AB
  
• Sånga Säby Kurs & Konferens
  
• Vasakronan
  
• Visit Sweden
  
• Water Company

United Nations Global Compact

United Nations Global Compact

As the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our ambition is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With the UN Global Compact, committed companies achieve sustainable value by delivering measurable impact to the world’s most pressing challenges. 

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