It seems that everyone is obsessed with their ‘carbon footprint’.

Even my cousin, whose regular Christmas circular letters have delighted the wider family with the minutiae of domestic life for many years now, this year declared that she wishes to reduce her carbon footprint and encourages us to supply our email addresses in time for next year’s edition.

Since Kyoto in December 1997, governments, corporate bodies and individuals have been increasingly focused on how to reduce their contribution to global warning. Financial services companies are no exception with environmental responsibility now a key plank of their general corporate responsibility charm offensive.

Financial services groups are keen to promote themselves as trustworthy and caring and no better way to do this is to demonstrate corporate responsibility by being a good employer, supporting community projects and educational projects, espousing equal opportunities, and now reducing their impact on the environment. (more…)