Call for
business involvement in setting policies on climate change
Paris 27
November 1997 - As
preparations for the world conference on climate change in Kyoto, Japan, moved
into their final stage, the International Chamber of Commerce today staked a
claim for active business and industry involvement in deciding how the greenhouse
gas emissions held responsible for global warming should be reduced.
The ICC said business and industry would be crucial to any governmental initiative
in the area of climate change. It added: "The contribution of business
and industry can be maximised if governments involve them in this critically
important process of climate change policy development and implementation."
Governments should recognize that voluntary actions were an effective means
of implementing the goals to be set out at Kyoto, the ICC said in a statement
on behalf of its thousands of member companies and associations in more than
130 countries.
The statement emphasized that climate change policies would have significant
impact on employment, investment, trade and competitiveness. They would therefore
determine prospects for economic growth, increases in per capita income and
living standards.
Policies chosen by the governments meeting in Kyoto should be designed to promote
economic growth a
s well as climate change goals, the ICC said. In Kyoto, governments
will attempt to resolve differences over what targets for curbing emissions
industrialized countries should accept under a global climate treaty.
The ICC pointed out that any treaty that does emerge would affect business operations,
employees, customers, shareholders "and the governments that depend on
business for so many societal needs."
The world business organization added that developing countries - so far excluded
from obligations under the treaty being negotiated - should accept the need
for their participation in climate change initiatives if the conference's global
objective was to be achieved.
The statement made these further points:
demand for energy and electricity will continue to grow significantly even if
concerted efforts are made to abate greenhouse gas emissions;
all forms of current energy sources, including nuclear power, renewables and
other alternative sources will be needed to meet that demand;
differences in national economies should be reflected in objectives set by governments;
without flexibility in implementing policies to restrict greenhouse gas emissions
there will be significant negative effects on economic growth;
the Kyoto conference should undertake to look more closely at market-based instruments
for achieving its aims, including tradable emissions permits.
For more information, consult the ICC
World Business Brief: Third Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change and the ICC
Environment Commission
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