Following the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21), Procurement departments are anticipating the impact of the Paris Climate Agreement on their strategies. This is the result of a Trending in Procurement survey carried out by Ivalua among European procurement professionals on the occasion of the COP 21 held in Paris from 30th November to 11th December 2015.
While the Paris Climate Agreement, reached after a 300-hours negotiation marathon, is presented as an “historical deal” supporting the fight against climate change and paving the way towards a low-emission global economy, Ivalua wanted to assess Procurement’s perception of this event and its impact on their strategies.
COP 21 and Paris Climate Agreement will have an impact on Procurement strategies
Over 70% of respondents believe that COP 21 will impact their strategy (73%) and therefore that the United Nations conference will lead to reviewing strategies and programs set up by their Departments.
Priority n°1: anticipate and adapt to new regulations
Though not legally binding for the signatory states, the Paris Climate Agreement is to be transposed into national laws. And it’s the probability of new and stricter regulations which is influencing most Procurement departments to develop adaptation strategies over the coming months in a forward-looking manner.
When asked about the specific impacts of the COP 21 on their strategies, participants cite first that they will review their strategy in order to anticipate and adapt to new regulatory constraints (75%), second that they will implement more rigorous supplier’s evaluation based on environmental criteria (62%), and third that they will (re)assess climate change risks in our supply chain. Setting up new management guidelines to promote the adoption of energy saving initiatives by procurement teams or promoting the development of low emissions products & services are cited by less than 15% of participants.
More than 120 Procurement professionals participated in the Ivalua Trending in Procurement survey “Procurement & COP21” which was shared across social networks in December 2015.