PwC promotes itself as a corporate leader on environmental issues but the firm is putting its reputation at risk through its membership of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), which has repeatedly boasted about stymying action on climate change.
PwC was the first professional services firm in Australia to becarbon neutral certifiedunder the National Carbon Offset Standard and is also a member of the UN Global Compact, which says businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges and undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility.
“PwC has taken some positive steps to mitigate its carbon footprint but all of this good work is put into question by its funding of the Minerals Council,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Climate and Energy Campaigner, Nikola Casule, said.
“The MCA not only questions the science of climate change but aggressively lobbies governments to prevent them from taking action to address it. If PwC wants to continue to be viewed as a business leader on environmental sustainability and climate change, it cannot simultaneously support the MCA and its anti-environmental positions.
“If PwC genuinely believes in the environmental issues it has chosen to take a stand on it should follow AGL’s lead and quit the Minerals Council.”
Last year AGL, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Australia, dropped its membership of the MCA over the company’s different position on renewable energy.
For interviews contact:
Martin Zavan
Greenpeace Media Campaigner
0424 295 422 / martin.zavan@greenpeace.org
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