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Board Europe Board Europe and tactical moves made at the Battle of Waterloo Volume 22 • Number 11/12 Board Europe A NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS OF THE CONFERENCE BOARD IN EUROPE November/December 2007 Inside 3 The Conference Board Business Action on Climate Change names Gail Fosler President A Report of the Climate Change Forum By Marc Stegeman New Corporate Security Advisor The Conference Board Global climate change is now a generally accepted fact – a fact of science, a fact of business, and ECB Conference and a fact of daily life for a growing number of people throughout the world. A recent draft Green Paper from the European Commission stated: “The growing evidence of the cost of climate change points to one simple conclusion: we cannot afford to do nothing.” Council News 4 What practical steps can European business take to address the pressing challenges of • Corporate Communications • Corporate Governance climate change? Speakers from government, regulatory bodies, industry and NGOs came • Learning, Leadership & together on 10-11 October to discuss the way forward at a Conference Board forum hosted Organisational Development by Belgacom. • Innovation • Hungarian Finance Carbon Trading and Taxation Executives In 2005, the European Union launched the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the first • e-Procurement international trading system for CO2 emissions in the world. Despite a rocky start, there are • Compensation & Benefits signs that the “cap & trade” approach is gaining momentum. “The great thing about the Emissions Trading Scheme and other types of cap and trade 8 CEOs’ Top 10 Challenges schemes is that it has put a price on carbon,” said Nick Robins, Head Climate Change Centre of Excellence, HSBC Holdings. “For the past 150 years we have been developing on the back of very plentiful fossil-fuel reserves without paying the environmental costs.….If carbon cost starts to be included in prices in the economy then we are going to see quite a transformation in the way that we use and consume energy.” ( ➢ 2) WWW CONFERENCE BOARD ORG . - . 1 115513_news_11_12_nov_dec_07.indd5513_news_11_12_nov_dec_07.indd 1 99/11/07/11/07 111:22:291:22:29 ( ➢ 1) Another option under consideration in Educating the Consumer emissions that have been put up into the Europe is carbon taxation, by which the Many companies are making huge efforts atmosphere over 150 years, so it really is end user pays the final tax. A carbon tax to develop environmentally responsible incumbent upon the Europeans and the would promote environmentally res- products but it is important to educate North Americans to make those changes ponsible behaviour at the consumer or the consumer to make the right choices in lifestyles and economic systems to end-user level, all the while providing for the right reasons. Procter & Gamble’s show that it is possible to have low- national governments with revenues that recent European marketing campaigns carbon affluence, so that these are then can be allocated to carbon-reduction for its laundry-detergent products, for the models that can then be adopted in programmes. example, highlight the energy that emerging markets.” consumers can save when they wash The Price Factor their clothes at lower temperatures. The It is a daunting task that requires Soaring energy prices have made campaign has been very successful, both concerted action – a partnership of efficiency a business imperative. But for P&G and for the environment. government, business and citizens. It is many companies are now finding that a up to each and every one of us to seize greener approach can do more than cut Andrew Fisk, Head of Fabric Care every opportunity to make a difference, costs. Offering environmentally res- External relations at P&G, underlined the no matter how small or incremental. ponsible products and services can also need to explain energy-saving benefits mean increased market share, improved to the consumer in language that they “If we wait for the new solutions of the brand awareness, stronger customer understand, in practical rather than future,” said Theo Walthie, Dow Chemical loyalty, and higher profits. Toyota Motor abstract terms. Like other speakers, he Senior Energy Advisor, “we won’t do Co.’s Prius hybrid car is a good example. stressed that there is no room for enough of what needs to be done today.” compromise: “You have to deliver a great General Motors Corp.’s Saab division in performance in your product and an Sweden is having similar success with the environmental benefit.” Saab 9-5 BioPower, a “flexfuel” model that can run both on petrol and ethanol A Developmental Challenge and provides substantially greater horse- China, India and the other emerging power with a smaller, more fuel-efficient markets are already feeling the impact of engine. The 9-5 BioPower is now the No 1 climate change, and they now see this environmental car in Sweden, and GM is issue as a fundamental part of their currently looking at ways to further future economic growth. As they develop capitalize on this technology in its other their climate change strategies, Europe markets. “The trick is not to compromise and North America still have a clear on performance,” said Kjell Bergström, guiding role to play. President and CEO of General Motors Powertrain – Sweden AB. “You have to “Climate change is a problem of stock,” Emmanuel Raskin, Senior Environment offer attractive products.” says Nick Robins. “It’s a problem of Manager, Belgacom, welcomes participants. Climate Change Forum participants. Emmanuel Raskin and Concetta Fagard of Belgacom and Barbara Reno of The Conference Board open the forum. 2 115513_news_11_12_nov_dec_07.indd5513_news_11_12_nov_dec_07.indd 2 99/11/07/11/07 111:22:321:22:32 The Conference Board names Gail Fosler President Gail D. Fosler has been named President key European and pan-Asian markets, of The Conference Board. The including China. Until her successor is appointment was announced by Jonathan named, she will continue as Chief Spector, President and CEO of The Economist. She will extend her Conference Board. Under the new responsibilities to the full scope of The structure, Fosler will report to Spector in Conference Board's knowledge creation his role as Chief Executive Officer. and will also lead the expansion and integration of the organisation's global The Conference Board. Her focus on Gail Fosler, who has served The presence. engaging the most senior executives Conference Board in a number of around the world on substantive issues capacities over the past 18 years, most Said Spector: "Since joining us 18 years makes her extremely well qualified to recently as Executive Vice President and ago, and in the short time I have been help lead us forward as we try to take The Chief Economist, will remain in charge of here, Gail has been an invaluable thought Conference Board to the next level of the organisation's global operations in partner in setting the future direction of performance." New Corporate Security Advisor Economics Conference How safe is your company from a with the European Central Bank and Banque de France terrorist attack? If a major crisis were to occur, would your company The Creation of Economic and Corporate be sufficiently prepared? Would it still be able to do business? Have Wealth in a Dynamic Economy your people been properly trained to identify risks at work, when Frankfurt, 16-17 January 2008 travelling or in their personal lives? Are any of the company’s facilities The Conference Board will join forces with the European especially vulnerable? What about Central Bank and Banque de France to present a high-level the corporate headquarters? conference on wealth creation in a dynamic economy. To help answer such questions, Session topics include: Crispin Black MBE, Director, Corporate The Conference Board Europe • The economic policy environment: market structure Security Network has appointed Crispin Black MBE and productivity growth as Senior Advisor, Corporate • The role of financial markets in economic growth Security. A well-known • Facing the challenges of innovation and globalisation independent intelligence analyst • The creation of economic and corporate wealth in and expert in terrorism, with a distinguished background in the euro area the British army and intelligence services, Crispin will be Among the confirmed speakers are: Jean Claude Trichet, presenting in-house briefings for member companies, and Governor of the European Central Bank; José Manuel Barroso, will establish a Corporate Security Network as a private President of the European Commission; Josef Ackermann, forum for research and confidential exchange on critical Trustee of The Conference Board, Chairman of the security issues. Management Board and the Group Executive Committee, Deutsche Bank; Gail Fosler, President and Chief Economist, During a webcast in September, Crispin Black elaborated on The Conference Board; and Martin Wolf CBE, Associate what business executives need to know about terrorism and Editor and Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial how they can prepare for a terrorist attack. He explained that Times. there is no need to spend vast amounts of money on security. Companies can make realistic, cost-effective responses to There will be a limited number of places for Associate the current uncertain security situation. companies. To receive a full agenda and apply for a place, contact Andrew Tank, Executive Director for European For more information, please contact Keith Holland, Senior Research and Communications, The Conference Board, Regional Director, The Conference Board Europe: keith. [email protected], [email protected], tel. +44 207 355 5039 tel. +32 2 675 5405 3 115513_news_11_12_nov_dec_07.indd5513_news_11_12_nov_dec_07.indd 3 99/11/07/11/07 111:22:351:22:35 Council News Corporate Communications Social Media – Changing the Landscape of Corporate Communications Zurich, 19-20 September Social media is the term used to internally. Sebastian Drews of IBM encompass the technology and Switzerland and Andreas Parchmann of practices people use to share thoughts, Philips demonstrated how collaborative opinion, information and perspectives techniques such as blogs, forums and online.
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