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| ICC welcomes UN forum on climate change | |
| |  | | | | | |  | | |  | | | | | The UN Summit on Climate Change took place in New York this week
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ICC welcomes the initiative of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to bring together business, NGOs, inter-governmental organizations and governments at the Global Leadership Forum during the UN Summit on Climate Change in New York this week.
The forum, which was organized by the UN Global Compact office and a broad group of UN agencies, funds and programmes, was held ahead of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP15) in December.
ICC, as business and industry focal point for UNFCCC negotiations, is hoping for a balanced, robust and effective global post-2012 climate agreement for which Copenhagen will be a decisive moment.
“Concluding an ambitious agreement will require extraordinary leadership and political will,” said Jean Rozwadowski, ICC Secretary General. “ICC believes that now is the time to respond to the urgency that the scientific community is signalling and complete work on a post-2012 agreement that will help the world collectively embark on ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reductions and a quantum leap forward in the technological innovation and cleaner investment which are critical to global sustainable development.”
ICC is calling on governments to recognize the need to address climate change in a manner that advances the restoration of economic growth and jobs that will be essential to responding to global challenges.
Going forward, ICC hopes to see the creation of more effective ways for governments to benefit from business expertise and actions through opportunities to collaboratively define mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and effective policies to promote them.
ICC believes the post 2012 framework agreement should:
- Promote economic recovery, investment and employment as essential elements to tackle climate challenges, and respond to growing energy demand and lack of access to energy for development;
- Include agreements on ambitious and achievable mitigation objectives by all major-emitting countries, and the means to achieve them, compatible with national priorities and circumstances, while promoting maximum international cooperation;
- Recognize the important role of markets in any cost-effective response to climate change, and enhance market-based approaches in conjunction with other policy instruments for more environmentally-sound investment;
- Work in harmony with globalized commercial markets, trade and investment rules, and other fundamental international frameworks, and provide appropriate institutional and enabling frameworks to enhance development and deployment of technologies to address climate change;
- Keep all energy options open and stimulate the broader use of existing energy-efficient and low-emission technologies to enable cost-effective reductions of GHG emissions and protect intellectual property to underpin technology innovation, commerce, and trade;
- Put in place concerted, global support for research and development to increase the pace of commercialization and deployment for technologies;
- Include a strong compliance regime, including timely and transparent reporting, and practical and effective approaches to measure, report and verify actions undertaken through national commitments;
- Address adaptation needs, particularly in vulnerable developing countries, and create frameworks and governance structures to efficiently attract the necessary resources;
- Work in concert with other critical priorities, notably energy supply and access for development, job creation, economic growth, and trade liberalization.
ICC will continue to work closely with governments and other partners on international cooperative approaches that bring sustainable economic and environmental benefits. On 8 October, the ICC Executive Board will host a luncheon at the United Nations which will be attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss some of the issues.
Climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. ICC believes that climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our times, linked as it is with real needs for energy, development and economic growth. The engagement of all countries in a cooperative spirit will be crucial to success.
Business is a vital part of the needed solutions and is actively engaged in the fight against climate change. Many companies have already made major changes in how they operate and have seized opportunities for new processes, products and services that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Throughout the world, businesses large and small are addressing climate change at local, national and international levels both as enterprises and through public-private partnerships.
| For further information, please contact : |  | Carlos Busquets
Policy Manager
Tel: +33 1 49 53 29 75
| | Click here to email |
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