ICC calls on all countries to demonstrate leadership on ambitious global climate agreement

The climate talks, taking place from 1-12 December, will see governments from around the world converge for negotiations that seek agreement on a number of significant issues, including the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), to conclude an equitable and effective UN global agreement in 2015.

Talks in Lima have the potential to provide a solid basis to achieve, for the first time in over 20 years of negotiations, a binding and universal agreement on climate change from all nations of the world. This agreement ought to be finalized at the COP meeting next year in Paris (COP21).

“Global business is calling for a new multilateral climate agreement. ICC’s strong presence at COP20 this year will ensure international business is represented during these negotiations and plays a significant role in shaping climate change solutions,” said ICC Secretary General John Danilovich.

In its unique role as the world business organization, ICC forges closer cooperation between governments and the private sector, and strives to ensure that governments create an enabling framework for business to continue shaping and implementing practical climate change solutions.

Governments are expected to identify the key elements of the 2015 agreement in Lima to give more clarity and predictability for business to make investments and decisions that could support accelerated and scaled up global action on climate change.

“A low-carbon economy can spur economic growth. Business and governments must work together to find the right framework to globally accelerate green growth through trade and investment,” said Kersten-Karl Barth, Sustainability Director at Siemens AG, and Chair of the ICC Commission on Environment and Energy.

“The new climate agreement should be consistent with environmental agreements such as the Montreal Protocol, trade agreements such as under the World Trade Organization and on-going work under the G20 or the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals,” said James Bacchus, Chair of the ICC Commission on Trade and Investment and member of the High-Level Advisory Panel to the President of the COP to the UNFCCC. “We also need to see consistency with regional, national and sub-national legislation as it will be critical for businesses of all sizes to act decisively.”

ICC is a long-standing partner of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it acts as the BINGO focal point, and participates as an observer in the Climate Investment Funds. In addition, ICC also works closely with senior government officials on cross-cutting environmental issues at the G20 and other intergovernmental forums.

ICC will host and engage in a range of events in Lima. Global business leaders and members of the ICC Commission on Environment and Energy will participate in the conference to present business views.

During the conference, ICC will present its latest publication A Business Perspective on International Climate Change Policy outlining key business priorities for the UNFCCC COP20 and towards the 2015 climate negotiations, as well as the newly released Charter for Sustainable Development. The Charter provides a ‘strategy development kit’ which contains principles that help companies to manage economic, societal, and environmental considerations in their operations.

ICC will also showcase the ICC Green Economy Roadmap, a guide for business, policymakers and society, which sets out 10 conditions needed to drive growth and calls for innovation, collaboration and governance. The roadmap serves as both a tool for integrating sustainability into business strategies and government policies as well as a platform to share and scale up best practices and initiate new activities.

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