ICC addressed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bangkok this week, delivering a presentation on sectoral strategies as a possible path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Brian Flannery, Vice Chair of the ICC Commission on Environment and Energy, gave the presentation at the in-session Ad-Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. The ICC presentation made a series of recommendations on how to put sectoral approaches to best use for addressing climate change, including the need to encourage voluntary agreements, allow markets to develop technologies, give priority to the most cost-effective options, and provide incentives to retire inefficient equipment.

ICC was also active in the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action, established in the Bali Action Plan. The working group holds the responsibility of directing the negotiating process over the next two years to create a framework for curbing climate change that would take effect after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. During the inaugural session in Bangkok, Chaveng Chao, Vice Chairman, Executive Environment Committee, Federation of Thai Industries, said that global business is ready to provide its diverse insights and practical solutions to the climate change challenge.

ICC is the focal point for business input to the UNFCCC and will deliver a range of business views and experiences on sectoral approaches in the ongoing negotiations over the next two years, in the run-up to the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen in 2009. 

The Bali Action Plan agreed at the UNFCCC meeting last December, which charted a new course for establishing the post-2012 framework, identified sectoral approaches as a possible way to mitigate the effects of climate change. The plan also identified sectoral strategies as a way to address technology-related issues, such as sharing best practice, raising performance standards, enhancing environmental performance, transferring technology and creating legal and regulatory frameworks.

ICC’s Commission on Environment and Energy develops business positions and represents business during intergovernmental consultations on these issues.