Most Australian businesses are still in the dark about what the government’s proposed emissions trading scheme means to them, nor have taken any action on climate change, a new survey found.

Some 62 percent of the nearly 400 companies surveyed by KPMG and the Australian Industry Group have yet to take any steps to reduce their carbon footprint or energy output, while 25 percent said they have no plans to measure their carbon footprint at all before legislation goes in effect in 2011.

Only 15 percent of companies that responded said they understood all the aspects of the emissions trading plan.

Manufacturers are more likely to have taken steps to reduce their emissions compared to their counterparts in the services or construction industries, according to the research.

Ai Group chief executive Heather Ridout was quoted in the press on July 21 as saying the inaction could stem from the fact that only 15 percent of businesses were confident that they knew comprehensively what the scheme meant for them.

“Businesses are not yet well informed about the [CPRS],” she told The Age. “While some businesses have a very good understanding of the key elements of the proposal, this is far from widespread. There is clearly a great deal more that needs to be done before we can assume business is adequately prepared for the scheme and its impacts.”

For more details on the study, click here.