U.S. companies' top concern in the climate change debate is reducing carbon emissions, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Appetite for Change survey. Of the climate change/environmental issues expected to most impact U.S. companies over the next two to five years, U.S. survey respondents ranked the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions first (16%), followed by new regulation (13%), energy efficiency (12%) and legislation/new laws (11%).
While the debate continues over more comprehensive approaches to curbing greenhouse gas emissions, there is broad-based support for tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency, according to the survey. In fact, 88% of U.S. companies surveyed say that tax incentives were effective in encouraging businesses to reduce their environmental impact. Yet two-thirds of U.S. respondents (67%) say that tax incentives currently in place are not sufficiently motivating them to change their business behavior to obtain them.
Nearly one in four U.S. respondents (23%) believe government should have primary responsibility for leading behavioral change around climate initiatives, rather than businesses overall or their own industry. In contrast, 44% of respondents globally said government should have primary responsibility in this area.
SOURCE: PricewaterhouseCoopers
