The private sector had been slower than some of its overseas counterparts in appreciating the consequences of climate change for business, Environmental and Tourism Affairs Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said yesterday, reports Business Day political respondent, Linda Ensor.

He was marking the launch of the second annual South African Carbon Disclosure Report. The carbon disclosure project is an international initiative that was extended to SA last year for the first time. It involves an internationally recognised process of corporate reporting on climate change impacts.

This year the project, which is managed by the National Business Initiative, was extended to include the top 100 companies on the JSE. Last year’s report covered only the JSE top 40.

Van Schalkwyk said there had been a sizable increase in the number of companies disclosing their greenhouse gas emissions — more than 75% of responding companies. “While in several instances this disclosure is only on a partial basis, there is nevertheless an emerging commitment to improved monitoring and reporting on greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.