ICC has commended global efforts to meet the challenges of climate change, including this month’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, recent UNFCCC Vienna Intercessional talks and the upcoming UN High Level Event on climate change in New York. They are all helping to build momentum towards the 13th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Convention of the Parties, which will take place at the end of the year in Bali.

Nick Campbell, Chair of the ICC Task Force on Climate Change, described the APEC Sydney Declaration, signed on 9 September by 21 Asia-Pacific leaders, as a step forward in bringing a number of the largest greenhouse gas-emitting countries, both developed and developing, towards agreement on the need for an international plan to address climate change. 

The Sydney Declaration launched a common effort to promote energy efficiency, research and technological innovation, and underscored the central role of the UNFCCC. ICC has previously emphasized the importance of such a long-term framework in which all countries participate, under the aegis of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

ICC has also applauded progress made at the Vienna Intercessional meeting, particularly during the “Dialogue on long-term co-operative action to address climate change by enhancing implementation of the Convention”. The dialogue proved beneficial in providing the opportunity to discuss views in an informal setting, enabling a better understanding of national positions and goals. 

ICC has been working closely with the UN Secretary-General to secure business participation in the UN High Level Event on climate change in New York on 24 September, which aims to ensure political support at the highest levels. As a representative of world business, ICC stands ready to participate and to make the case for cooperative solutions that optimize business contributions to addressing climate change and advancing sustainable development.

Laurent Corbier, Chairman of the ICC Commission on Environment and Energy, noted that such processes are significant in building momentum to address energy and climate change challenges in an integrated fashion, emphasizing economic growth, innovation, technology and investment.

“Coming as they do after the G8 commitments on climate change and in the lead-up to the 13th Conference of the Parties in Bali in December, we are encouraged by growing international efforts on a variety of fronts to advance progress through long-term and pragmatic approaches,” Mr Corbier said.