California, USA - Business for Social Responsibility has published new report that examines business reactions to climate change and lays out a simple spectrum of actions to move towards carbon neutrality.

The report, A Three-Pronged Approach to Corporate Climate Strategy (download - PDF), offers examples of what companies across industries are doing to limit risk and liability and create approaches to secure their positions as leaders rather than laggards. Increasing the efficiency of energy use, offsetting emissions, and shifting to de-carbonized energy and renewables are some of the actions that apply to all aspects of business, including raw material selection, design, sourcing, delivery and disposal.

“These options are more than many companies often consider, and offer managers greater choice in defining ambitious, value-creating climate strategies,” said Emma Stewart, BSR’s acting director of research and development.

In addition to this new business guide, BSR is designing three new multi-year initiatives for companies:

• Lessening climate-related emissions within the food and agriculture sector through supply chains, sourcing and trucking. This initiative will work with companies on local procurement and on developing the tools needed to pilot and expand local sourcing.
  
• Providing companies with an understanding of the full range of voluntary CO2 offset programs and a tool for assessing when to act and which program to select.
  
• Engaging auto, energy and agriculture companies on biofuels and mobility. Through a series of multi-sector dialogues and briefings BSR will explore the impacts of emerging supply chains in biofuels.