Consumers willing to pay to go green

AUSTRALIANS strongly support a carbon emissions trading scheme and would be discouraged from working for, investing in or buying from companies with...

Consumers willing to pay to go green

AUSTRALIANS strongly support a carbon emissions trading scheme and would be discouraged from working for, investing in or buying from companies with poor environmental standards, a survey says.

CPA Australia, one of the world's largest accounting bodies, said it surveyed 300 members of the public, 200 senior company executives, 100 auditors and 44 institutional investors and fund managers.

It found 79 per cent supported the introduction of a carbon emissions trading scheme within five years.

The new Federal Government has pledged to launch an emissions trading scheme by 2010.

The survey also showed 91 per cent of members of the public wanted companies' water usage to be made public.

The survey showed an unfavourable environmental reputation was a major liability for any company, with 86 per cent of people saying they would be discouraged from working for a company with a poor environmental reputation.

And 85 per cent of the public respondents said they wouldn't invest in a company with a poor environmental reputation, while 85 per cent also said they wouldn't buy its products or services.

"These findings send a clear message to business - sustainability issues matter, ignore them at your peril,'' CPA Australia chief executive Geoff Rankin said.