Energy Efficiency Systems, Dations for Long-Term, Low-Carbon, Prosperity
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Kopi fra DBC Webarkiv Kopi af: Shaping the sustainable economy : summary report of the World Business Summit on Climate Change, Copenhagen, 24-26 May 2009 Dette materiale er lagret i henhold til aftale mellem DBC og udgiveren. www.dbc.dk e-mail: [email protected] Shaping the sustainable economy Summary report of the World Business Summit on Climate Change Copenhagen, 24-26 May 2009 A Monday Morning Initiative Summary report THERE IS NOT MUCH TIME. WE HAVE TO DO IT THIS YEAR. NOT NEXT YEAR. THIS YEAR […] THE CLOCK IS TICKING BECAUSE MOTHER NATURE DOES NOT DO BAILOUTS.” Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore Summary report Foreword 3 Foreword The World Business Summit on Climate Change was convened in Copenhagen from 24-26 May at the same venue that will host the COP15 in December this year. Over the course of three days, global leaders from business, policy, civil society, and science, all engaged in dialogue on the road to a low-carbon future and the recommendations for an ambitious new climate change framework. They heard from the United Nations Secretary-General on the need for business engagement and leadership; former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore on the critical impor- tance of an effective climate treaty and business leaders from more than 40 countries. The key objective of the World Business Summit on Cli- What we take from this Summit is a positive commit- mate Change was to contribute input to the work of the ment to action. It is clear to all that the world is in the Danish government and the United Nations negotiations midst of a global recession. But having been part of dis- entering their final phase before COP15 in December. At cussions during the three days in Copenhagen, among the culmination of the Summit, the Copenhagen Call leaders within oil, energy, transportation, green tech, was presented to Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Ras- ICT and many other industries, our hopes are high. We mussen by Copenhagen Climate Councilors and senior are optimistic. From deliberations at the Summit, and business representatives at the Summit. the clarity of the Copenhagen Call, it is clear that global leaders want change and are ready to deliver what is required. This statement is an unequivocal call for a more effec- tive and ambitious global climate treaty. It was informed by work at the Summit and the contributions of those Our hope is that global political leaders will demonstrate partners who supported the event: the World Economic the same leadership as global business leaders did on Forum Climate Change Initiative; the World Business 24-26 May in Copenhagen. Council for Sustainable Development; the United Na- tions Global Compact; the Climate Group and 3C. Business leadership on climate change is vital, because Tim Flannery Erik Rasmussen politicians listen to those agents that create wealth and value. And vital because if we are going to reduce emis- Chair Founder sions and get the carbon cycle back into some kind of Author and scientist Editor-in-Chief and CEO, balance, those agents must create wealth and value in Monday Morning ways that do not result in carbon pollution. The Copenhagen Climate Council is a global collaboration between international business and science founded by the leading independent think tank in Scandinavia, Monday Morning. The members of the Copenhagen Climate Council have come together to create global awareness of the importance of the UN Climate Change Conference, in Copenhagen, in December 2009. 4 Index Summary report Summary report Index Foreword 03 Executive summary 05 The Copenhagen Call 10 Working group session summaries 14 Outcomes of side events 28 List of participants 30 About the Copenhagen Climate Council 34 Next steps 37 About Monday Morning 38 About Planet Call 39 Sponsors 40 Summary report Executive summary 5 Executive summary On 24-26 May 2009, more than 500 business leaders from some 40 countries met with leading experts, government officials, and NGO representatives at the World Business Summit on Climate Change, in Copenhagen. The objective of the Summit was to mobilize private sector engagement in the development of the future The Copenhagen Call policy framework on climate change, and to provide constructive ideas and practical proposals to support At the end of the Summit, the Copenhagen Cli- an ambitious global deal on climate change at COP15 in mate Council and its partners presented business Copenhagen in December 2009. recommendations – the Copenhagen Call - to the Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and The Summit was convened by the Copenhagen Climate the UNFCCC Secretary General Yvo de Boer, which Council in collaboration with The Climate Group, 3C calls upon political leaders to agree an ambi- (Combat Climate Change), the United Nations Global tious and effective global climate treaty at COP15 Compact, the World Business Council for Sustainable in Copenhagen. You can find the full text of the Development, and the World Economic Forum’s Climate Copenhagen Call on pg. 10. Change Initiative, and with the full support of the Dan- ish Government. The challenge is manageable and affordable. There was “If I were a climate negotiator now, recognition that while action to tackle emissions growth with six months to go, I’d be hoping will result in short-term costs, this will be outweighed by long-term benefits of avoiding dangerous climate that business would step up the pres- change. The technical solutions are to a great extent sure on me. We need to be a bit brutal available or emerging, but need to be fully implemented at times on the negotiators. Some of and supported by policy frameworks. them might even welcome that.” Lord Michael Jay, Advisory Board Member, Business recognizes and should act on climate change science. Business stands ready to invest and develop Globe International solutions to climate change, based on input from the scientific community of the urgency and scale of the problem. IPCC chair, Dr. R.K. Pachauri, noted during The underlying ambition of the Summit was to ad- discussions that we are “towards the upper end of the dress the twin challenges of the climate and economic range” of the emissions paths assessed in the 2007 crisis. Participants at the Summit addressed how these Fourth Assessment Report. This concern was shared by risks can be turned into opportunities if business and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who expressed how governments work together and what policies, incen- future generations would look back at us if “we choose tives, and investments, will most effectively stimulate not to take action to avoid the horrendous catastrophe low-carbon growth. that the scientific community spelled out and told them would happen if they did not act.” Key messages from the Summit Business is ready to act. If there is one overriding mes- During the Summit, Pachauri and other scientists sage from business leaders at the Summit, it is that the warned that by not tackling climate change, here and current economic downturn must not temper the ambi- now, politicians would lead the world on a path toward tions of governments to achieve a robust climate treaty an increased threat of war, population displacement, in Copenhagen, as business is ready to respond and and terrorism. turn talk into action. Business leaders have the availa- ble models and technologies, as well as the willingness Politicians need the confidence to demonstrate true to implement what a new ambitious political framework leadership. It was clear during the Summit that business would demand. Economic recovery and urgent action to leaders as well as civil society must support their na- tackle climate change can be complementary by boost- tional political leaders. Several discussion leaders also ing the economy and jobs through investment in the stressed that in order to reach a successful outcome in new infrastructure needed to reduce emissions. December 2009 focus on a bottom-up approach is crucial 6 Executive summary Summary report Summary report – both internally and externally. By mobilizing employ- “We all need to be active. It doesn’t ees in this regard, business leaders can help facilitate end here. There are 208 days to go. the public support political leaders need to make bold decisions and reach ambitious agreement. Everybody that’s here needs to think, If I’m not satisfied with what comes Next steps towards December 2009 out of Copenhagen, did my organiza- Business leaders at the Summit demonstrated a clear tion, my company, did I do everything commitment to the development of an ambitious future I could to get the best deal. Success policy framework for climate change and stand ready to will have many parents.” work with policymakers to help reflect their ideas and concerns in the international climate change treaty, Steve Howard, Chief Executive Officer, which they hope will be agreed at Copenhagen. The The Climate Group Summit highlighted two fundamental means to success in December 2009: 1. Business involvement, partnerships, and knowl- 2. Politicians need to get the mechanisms right. edge-sharing. Business has a critical role to play in Mechanisms and regulations designed by govern- financing, developing, and deploying low-carbon solu- ments, whether carbon markets, public-private part- tions. Business is expected to provide the bulk of the nerships, standards, or taxes, need to be designed investment required in the transition to a low-carbon to promote business engagement on climate change. economy, so it is important to understand that inves- Carbon markets should continue to play a central tors – whether pension funds, companies, or venture role in climate policy, but must be scaled up to a capitalists – need to make returns on their investments. global level and complemented by other policies.