{"id":695,"date":"2014-10-01T07:06:27","date_gmt":"2014-10-01T07:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/cop20\/?p=695"},"modified":"2014-10-01T07:06:27","modified_gmt":"2014-10-01T07:06:27","slug":"the-carbon-disclosure-project-one-carbon-atom-closer-to-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/cop20\/2014\/10\/01\/the-carbon-disclosure-project-one-carbon-atom-closer-to-change\/","title":{"rendered":"The Carbon Disclosure Project: One Carbon Atom Closer to Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Elizabeth Plascencia<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Carbon Disclosure Project Logo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The term climate<\/em> accounts for the prevailing trends in weather for a given area overtime. Accordingly, how does this projection suddenly become \u201cglobal\u201d? It is disseminated at the very nature of it all \u2013 greenhouse gases (GHG) are not held liable under any physical boundaries. Consequently, all emissions are subject to one atmosphere and repercussions are therefore global in that respect. Ranging from small local movements to large international agreements, efficiently and effectively addressing global climate change entails action on all levels. Through the work of cooperative transnational networks there is an active movement towards widespread involvement. With specific attention to the second most abundant GHG in the atmosphere, carbon dioxide (CO2), the transnational organization of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP<\/a>) is an international, non-profit body that provides the \u201c\u2026only system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage, and share vital environmental information\u201d (CDP, 2014). CDP effectively advances its objectives with respect to governing climate change by providing a public platform for global emissions information sharing which directly drives market forces to sustainable economies.<\/p>\n

Historically, international agreements requesting a reduction in national GHG emissions (i.e. Kyoto Protocol) have gained minimal widespread momentum. The Carbon Disclosure Project\u2019s success may be due to the fact that it works in such a way that creates a market force pressure on firms and businesses to invest in renewable rather than carbon intensive fuel in order to reduce emissions. As per its public platform on emissions, \u201cThe CDP now covers US $57 trillion worth of assists from over 3,000 companies. The scope of private regulation is, therefore, impressive and reaches key actors not subject to other forms of governance\u201d (Bulkeley, p. 99). It is clear that the CDP is actively working towards a long-term sustainable global economy by providing widespread evidence and management of environmental impact.<\/p>\n

Though frequently seen as separate within international negotiations, climate change and business are fused together and \u201cThe CDP provides a secretariat<\/a> for the world\u2019s largest institutional investor collaboration on the business implications of climate change\u201d (Bulkeley, p. 99). CDP\u2019s approach to climate change is directly linked to a transformation in the global economic system. As opposed to the convectional separation of business from the realm of climate change, CDP provides a platform for cities and companies to evaluate their respective emissions and make progress into a more energy efficient agenda which would not only benefit their company but also the welfare of the planet and its inhabitants. The CDP\u2019s main goals are listed below (CDP, 2014):<\/p>\n