Businesses call for stronger policy to avoid ‘trillion tonne’ carbon milestone

A coalition of global businesses has called on world leaders to prevent a trillion tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere, by promoting clear low-carbon policies.

The Trillion Tonne Communiqué, a coalition of 70 companies including Mars, Unilever, Adidas and EDF, and co-ordinated by the Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group, has called for the measures in order to avoid climate disasters.

The Communiqué said that governments must set targets to achieve zero net emissions before 2100 and rethink the energy system, putting clean technologies at the core of a new framework.

Sir Ian Cheshire, CEO of Kingfisher, said, “Our energy system is not fit for purpose. Governments need to do much more to incentivise and reward investment in low-carbon technology, as well as to encourage energy and resource efficiency.

“Businesses cannot act alone: they need clear regulatory frameworks to provide certainty and help them drive transformation towards a more energy secure future.”

The call comes shortly after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned over the enormous impact that rising temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions would have on the global economy and society.

Niall Dunne, chief sustainability officer at BT, added, “We need to get beyond the concept that progressive climate change policy is bad for business: it can be a huge driver of innovation and create opportunities for growth and prosperity.

“Conversely, there isn’t an organisation I know of which isn’t already being impacted by climate change at some level. Collective responsibility across governments, business and civic society is vital to ensure the world is on track for net zero emissions before the end of the century.”

Photo: Monica McGivern via flickr

Further reading:

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