Climate change

ICC and WBCSD to hold Global Business Day at UN climate conference

  • 28 November 2012
ICC Sustainable development

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) will once again hold the Global Business Day, the premier business event at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference.

This year’s event will take place on 3 December at the Diplomatic Club in Doha.

Throughout the day, business will demonstrate its commitment to low-carbon economic growth, provide business perspectives on diverse on-going activities around decarbonization and discuss the opportunities and challenges for scaling-up actions. Business Day will look ahead at the business perspective on diversifying the energy mix by 2050 in the framework of global green growth, and the essential drivers to keep moving towards a global low-carbon economy. The afternoon will feature a special focus on the opportunities for green growth in the Middle East.

At Doha, where the beginnings of a post 2020 agreement are being sown, it is important to keep up the momentum for climate action as an integral part of business strategy and country planning. New technologies, processes, and services are being developed daily while negotiations continue. Decisions made and signals given at Doha will affect the appetite for bold business action in different sectors and different regions.

The event will provide a nexus for business leaders, government officials and others in the climate community to maintain a call for action and to provide momentum towards solutions and partnerships, to counter the climate dilemma.

A variety of activities including presentations, panels and high-level dialogues and launches of new initiatives relating to action on climate will take place during the day, focused on international aspects of the energy and climate debate.

New launches

  • The International Energy Agency (IEA) and WBCSD will announce the Technology Roadmap: Low-Carbon Technology for the Indian Cement Industry. The roadmap will outline low-carbon growth pathways for the Indian cement industry. The initiative is supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.
  • The World Energy Council (WEC), the WBCSD, and the Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership (GSEP) are uniting their strengths in a new partnership announced today on the sidelines of the COP-18 meeting in Doha. This marks the first time the three global organizations have teamed up.

ICC World Trade Agenda – multilateral trade policies for greener economies

The ICC, in partnership with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has launched the ICC Business World Trade Agenda (WTA) to inject private sector leadership into helping set a multilateral trade policy agenda for the 21st century. Trade liberalization is essential in the diffusion and deployment of greener and climate-friendly technologies, particularly to developing countries. The WTA makes concrete recommendations for progress in lowering trade barriers to environmental goods and services.

Speakers will include

Peter Bakker, President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Yvo de Boer, Special Global Advisor, KPMG Global Climate Change and Sustainability Services

Jean-Guy Carrier, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce

Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

Bernhard Fonseka, CEO, Siemens

Ali al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia

Remy Rowhani, CEO, International Chamber of Commerce in Qatar

Additional speakers include leaders from: Alstom, BMW, CLP, Eskom, International Energy Agency, Novozymes, Oxfam, Philips Lighting, Shell, the World Bank and others.

View the full programme and list of speakers.

Media are warmly invited to attend.

When: Monday, 3 December 2012

Where: Diplomatic Club, Doha, click here for address details.

How: Interested participants will need to pre-register. Capacity is limited and registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Accredited media can attend for free.

Agenda

9.00 – 9.40 Opening Remarks and Welcome
9:40 – 9:50 Launch of the GEI: Shifting the balance of the energy mix for 2050
9:55 – 10:30 Science around GHG and the Carbon Cycle
10:30 – 11:15 Forging a Pathway
11:35– 12:20 Doha Debate:How to keep the lights on and a cool climate
12:45 – 13:00 Announcement of the Low-Carbon Technology Roadmap for the Indian Cement industry
National industry actions towards a low-carbon economy
New Paradigms in the Middle East
14:30 – 15:00 Setting the Scene: Ensuring Innovative Growth in the Middle East
15:15 – 16:00 Long-term Visions for Economic Growth Opportunities in the Middle East
16:45 – 17:30 Innovative Business Models in the Middle East
17:30 – 18:00 Closing Ceremony
18:00 – 18:10 Launch of the Green Growth Initiative – The ICC World Trade Agenda

NB: Registration for the Doha Global Business Day does not replace registration for the official United Nations Climate Change Conference-Doha.

For more information visit WBCSD

For more information about ICC’s activities visit the ICC Energy and Environment Commission