New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) A majority of India’s top corporations are aware of the risks associated with climate change and are determined to cut their carbon emissions, according to an industry survey released Thursday.
“About 68 percent of the respondents have reduction plans in place for slashing either their energy or GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions as compared to 61 percent last year,” said the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Report-2009.

The study, prepared by the Confederation of Indian Industry and ITC in association with the British high commission and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), said 44 out of the 200 top companies in India disclosed their emission levels.

In the report, released just four days ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit, the companies disclosed their carbon emissions data and reduction targets, and also acknowledged the associated risks and opportunities.

This is the third edition of the CDP India report.

About 63 percent companies disclosed their greenhouse gas emissions in CDP 2009, which is almost double as compared to only 33 percent in last year’s report.

“The overall total GHG emissions reported by the respondents stands at 68.9 million tonnes, which is almost double the GHG emissions reported in the last two years,” the report said.

“In the last three years, we have seen a significant improvement in quality and comprehension of companies to responses indicating integration of climate concerns in their decision making,” said Ravi Singh, secretary general and chief executive of WWF-India.

“It is important that the Indian industry is seen participating in this initiatives given the imperatives of climate change and globalisation,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Indian government Thursday announced that it would reduce its emission intensity by 20-25 percent by 2020 from the 2005 level.

India’s announcement came a few days after China announced a 40-45 percent cut in its emissions intensity by 2020 compared to 2005, Brazil announced 38-42 percent and Indonesia 26 percent.