New regulations that will require quoted companies to publish their greenhouse gas emissions could provide fresh impetus for fleet CO2 reductions, says GE Capital’s Fleet Services division.

The Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors Reports) Regulations 2013 state that details about direct and indirect emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydro fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride must be made publicly available.

A summary on transportation as an area of greenhouse gas emissions is required and it is here that the fleet will be the focus of attention, covering all vehicles directly controlled by the company.

The regulations are expected to receive Parliamentary approval shortly  and are scheduled to take effect from October.

Gary Killeen, Fleet Services commercial leader for GE Capital UK, said: “Clearly, CO2 reduction has been a core focus of fleet activity for more than a decade and has been especially important since the onset of the credit crunch in minimising driver taxation, fuel spend and CO2 output.

“However, the new regulations will inevitably create even more of an emphasis on CO2. Given that greenhouse gas emissions will become publicly available, companies will want to be seen to be as environmentally responsible as possible or at least to be performing competitively compared to their peers.

“Once the regulations have been passed, we expect to be working closely with the quoted companies on our client list to ensure that their fleet CO2 policies are as watertight as possible. It certainly provides fresh impetus in this area.”

A detailed factsheet about the subject has been produced by GE Capital and is now available to download at www.gedrivertoolbox.co.uk.

Killeen added: “The guide summarises the key points about the new regulations and provides fleet managers and other decision makers with the essential information that they need in an easy-to-understand format.”