Biz leaders speak: Ditch the politics on climate change ... now
The time — if there ever was one — for do-nothing politics and deadlocked climate negotiations is past, business leaders are telling officials who plan to be on hand for the next round of international climate talks set to begin next week in Durban, South Africa.
As of this week, 327 top business execs have put their names to the fifth, and latest, 2°C Challenge Communiqué. The signed document urges governments to work together and individually to immediately start doing what’s needed to build a more efficient, sustainable and low-carbon global economy.
“Failure by governments to end the deadlock in international negotiations will risk permanent damage to their credibility on this issue,” the communiqué states. “As business leaders, we believe that the only sustainable future for our companies and for the globe is to build a robust, green, climate‐resilient economy.”
While pundits blather on about this political party or that creating “uncertainty” in the markets, the real uncertainty comes from the current, unsustainable determination to carry on with “business as usual,” some signatories to the communiqué suggest.
“Only this will create the market certainty that is necessary to drive further large scale development of low-carbon smart technologies,” notes Vittorio Colao, CEO of Vodafone.
“Endorsing the 2°C Challenge Communiqué is not an option, but a duty,” adds Jeremy Fain, CEO of Verteego.
The communiqué asks for seven actions from government leaders:
- Break the deadlock and reach an international agreement at Durban;
- Put a fair price on carbon to end market distortions by fossil-fuel subsidies and other supports;
- Cough up the cash needed for a Green Climate Fund to help struggling countries develop low-carbon economies;
- Provide incentives for innovative technologies, skills and processes;
- Focus on efficiency with better standards and labeling;
- Work to end deforestation; and
- Integrate plans for a low-carbon economy that’s also resilient to the risks posed by climate change.
