Aon embarks on carbon reduction QUES
Aon is warning the public sector not to fall behind their corporate counterparts when the CRC, launching in April 2010, ranks the country’s largest carbon emitters - posing a serious reputation risk to public bodies.
QUEST will help organisations prepare for the launch of the scheme by creating a strategy to manage their carbon footprint and potentially even profit from it.
In addition, as the most senior employees of large UK public sector organisations could be prosecuted and face hefty fines or even prison sentences if they do not fully comply, the broker has arranged new personal indemnity insurance should an error on carbon estimates and reduction occur.
Aon’s QUEST product is a four-step programme which capitalises upon Aon’s risk management team and partnership with RSA, whose consultants were integral in crafting the CRC legislation.
Peter King, regional sales director for Aon commented: “Government departments, schools, universities, hospitals and other public institutions considered to be the largest carbon emitters should have begun to receive notification that they may fall under the CRC scheme.
"We are strongly advising those organisations to begin planning now and not to leave it until the last minute. This will help avoid criminal prosecutions, additional costs and reputational damage – a dangerous prospect for thosealready battling recession.
“Most organisations want to be good global citizens and do their part to help fight climate change. However, CRC is an extremely complex scheme, particularly in how it dovetails with the EU scheme, and unless specialist expertise is available mistakes could be easily made. We estimate that up to 25% of companies having to submit evidence packs about their current and planned carbon usage will be audited. Should the information submitted be incorrect not only is the organisation liable, but individuals responsible for these estimates are personally liable for prosecution too. This is not something you want to chance.”
