Companies should make the business case for climate action, states former UNFCCC executive
Yvo de Boer has claimed businesses play a crucial role in setting international climate change legislation as they are directly impacted by decisions made during discussions.
Former United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary and KPMG Global Climate Change and Sustainability Advisor Yvo de Boer has claimed businesses play a crucial role in setting international climate change legislation as they are directly impacted by decisions made during discussions.
In a statement released yesterday (16 August 2011) De Boer noted that although the climate change negotiations were an intergovernmental process, more interaction between governments and the private sector should occur as tackling climate change becomes a pressing topic at board level.
The 17th Conference of Parties (COP 17) discussions will to be held Durban, South Africa later this year and will be important for advancing climate change and adaption worldwide. Amongst global reformation, the negotiations will cover issues that directly affect the private sector such as the Green Climate Fund, which would raise funds for climate change-related projects in developing countries.
De Boer believes companies should make the business case for climate action and adaption for use at a global level during negotiations. However, he did note that it was unlikely businesses would be seated alongside ministers and world leaders during UNFCCC negotiations as it is up to governments to put in place the policies, frameworks and define the process for progress on climate change.
De Boer claims the lack of progression on addressing environmental concerns was due to the ineffectively made case for green growth.
The complications of accurately pricing items such as emissions, credits and green incentives across participating countries with conflicting agendas has stalemated during the political processes of the negotiations
“As long as we can pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere without cost, we won’t see reform. My sense is that unless negotiators manage to resolve the future, or nonfuture, of the Kyoto Protocol at Durban, there won't be progress on the other issues [within the UNFCCC negotiations],” he said.
Climate Action’s 2011/12 publication will be distributed during the COP 17 negotiations and will contain best practice and case studies by businesses on mitigating carbon emissions. If your business would like more information on how to be put forward as a green case study, please contact us by clicking here.
Article by Diva Rodriguez | Climate Action
