Business leaders' attitude to climate change is looking increasingly polarised and large numbers of execs still fail to recognise the issue as a top priority for their company.

That is the conclusion of a major new survey of 500 senior business executives from consultancy giant Accenture, which also found that many businesses express a desire to take action on climate change but feel hamstrung by a lack of knowledge on the issue and an absence of leadership from government.

The survey found that only 45 per cent of respondents felt that climate change was currently a major issue for their business, while only five per cent identified the issue as their firm's top strategic priority.

The findings are likely to fuel concerns voiced last week by UN officials that business leaders are sidelining concerns over climate change as they seek to respond to fears about a global economic downturn.

However, the survey also revealed some optimism, concluding that the number of business leaders recognising climate change as an issue is growing and arguing that where firms are failing to take action it is more due to uncertainty over how to react rather than an unwillingness to take action. For example, 59 per cent of respondents said they expected climate change to be a major issue for them within five years.

There was also an acceptance that legislation will demand wider steps to cut carbon emissions with two thirds expecting to see legally binding emission targets and over half predicting green taxes on energy will become more widespread.

Writing in the foreword to the report, Mark Foster, group chief executive management consulting and integrated markets at Accenture, argued that such legislation coupled with increased consumer pressure and media scrutiny meant that the early movers who develop a coherent response to climate change now would "hold an incalculable advantage" over rivals.

He advised that regardless of ongoing uncertainties over governments' climate change policies, firms should move to exploit the opportunities presented by climate change by "looking afresh at supply chain strategies; considering the role that new technologies can play; capitalising on opportunities in adjacent markets for green goods and services; and inculcating a broader sense of sustainable business among employees through performance rewards and metrics".

His comments were echoed Peter Hambly, director of marketing at the Carbon Trust, who insisted that a strong climate change policy did not run counter to businesses' attempts to insulate themselves against any global economic downturn.

"Tightening economic conditions actually provide an even better reason for businesses to cut carbon emissions," he argued. "By cutting carbon, businesses can reduce energy bills, as well as improve market share by responding to consumer pressure for low carbon products and services. In times of economic difficulty, cutting carbon can prove to be a competitive advantage and should not fall down the corporate agenda."