Business & UN
ICC welcomes steps on climate change from G8 and Major Economies Forum
G8 leaders took steps at their summit in L’Aquila to develop an effective response to climate change that meets economic, social and energy needs, most especially in developing countries, but more cooperation between governments and business is needed, ICC said today.
ICC also welcomed the declaration from the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change that includes leaders from G8 countries and other major economies.
In particular, ICC applauded the establishment of a Global Partnership to drive the development of low-carbon, climate-friendly technologies and encouraged policymakers to include business expertise in this area as much as possible.
“ICC is pleased to see that the role of the private sector has been underlined,” Secretary General Jean Rozwadowski said. “The business community has the expertise necessary for successful deployment of finance and technology at the necessary scale to address climate change.”
Reiterating that climate change is a global problem requiring a global solution, ICC said it strongly supports the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that is working towards reaching agreement in Copenhagen in December on a post-2012 framework accord.
Any new framework should include all major emitting countries and provide business with a clear and predictable framework to stimulate investment and deploy technology on the necessary scale, ICC maintains. Existing low-carbon technologies have the potential to significantly reduce emissions. But enabling frameworks, intellectual property rights protection, market-based deployment of those rights, innovative funding mechanisms and specific policy responses are needed to support their rapid dissemination in both developed and developing countries.
New technologies will also be needed and a future framework agreement must facilitate increased research and development of clean energy technologies through new financial mechanisms.
“Innovative public-private partnerships that foster rapid development of advanced technologies to reduce emissions will be needed,” ICC said.
In addition, ICC urges governments to avoid unilateral trade measures to address concerns growing from discrepancies in climate change policies among different countries. A strengthened multilateral trade regime will support the economic and technological flows required to implement solutions.
“The global economic crisis must not be used as an excuse for delaying action to combat climate change,” ICC added.
As business and industry focal point in the UNFCCC negotiations, ICC will continue to express a variety of business views and expertise, culminating in the Global Business Day in Copenhagen on 11 December. The Business Day event, co-organized by ICC and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, will serve as a forum for business to interact with high-level representatives from governments and civil society.
