Disney Prepares To Eliminate Carbon Emissions

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The Walt Disney Co. announced on Monday that it intends to slash carbon emissions from fuels by half before 2012, and achieve their ultimate goal of net zero direct greenhouse gas emissions at its office and retail complexes, as well as theme parks and cruise lines to follow thereafter, Reuters accounted.

Disney has also made a long-term goal to reduce to zero the amount of waste it sends to landfills by distributing some to recycling centers, and by composting and purchasing more post-consumer recycled goods.  In 2006, the waste totaled nearly 300,000 tons.

In addition to reducing emissions and landfill waste, the company also promises to utilize less water associated with the manufacture, transport, use and disposal of Disney products.

Senior vice president of environmental affairs, Beth Stevens, stated that Disney has “not put a definite time horizon” as to when these zero emissions goals may be attained, as it may rely partly on developing technology that is still in process to reach that goal.

Stevens further commented, “We set those (goals) because they were very aspirational.  We thought it was important… to communicate a sense of commitment.”

The environmental agenda was exposed in its “corporate responsibility” report a day prior to Disney’s annual shareholder meeting. Disney joins efforts among an increasing number of U.S. corporations that have vowed to improve carbon and ecological damage by a specific date, or have already accomplished this.

The report said, “Current scientific conclusions indicate that urgent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are required to avert accelerated climate change.”  It further indicated, “A successful response to these challenges demands fundamental changes in the way society, including businesses, use natural resources, and Disney is no exception.”

Conservation International assisted Disney on targets for emissions reduction, and Disney will continue this team work approach with a third party to examine its progress through annual audits.

“This is a good effort on transparency and disclosure,” commented Rev. David Schilling, program director for the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.  However, he remarked that the report lacks some benchmarks and measures.

“They are giving the message, ‘Stay tuned, this is where we are starting,’” he added.

The report additionally discussed plans to lessen electricity utilization by 10 percent compared with its 2006 exploitation of assets, and will “aggressively” pursue a plan to introduce renewable electricity sources by 2013.

In pursuit of attaining zero net direct emissions, Disney strives to determine effective means to cut emissions and exchange high-carbon fuels with low-carbon substitutes, then employ “high-quality offsets” for what remains.

In conjunction with taking measures to conserve, Disney also indicated its intention to purchase clean electricity from utilities and invest in projects that support this effort.

The goal date is 2013 for the company to cut solid waste to landfills in half of its 2006 baseline.

The New York Stock Exchange reported Disney shares fell 24 cents to $15.59, a 1.52 percent decrease.