• picture
  • picture
  • picture
  • picture
Public Radio's Environmental News Magazine (follow us on Google News)

Corporations call for action on climate change

Published: February 6, 2018


By Jack Rodolico


A satellite image of deforestation in Haiti. (NASA)

International corporations call on governments for decisive, sweeping action on climate change.

By Jack Rodolico

A group of 200 corporations says climate change threatens global prosperity and could inflict damaging “social, economic and environmental costs on the world.” Initiated by the Prince of Wales Corporate Leadership Group, the 2˚C Challenge comes six weeks ahead of the UN climate summit in Durban, South Africa.

The companies span the globe and represent diverse sectors of business and industry. Signatories include EBay, Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Shell, BP, Nestle, Philips, Puma, National Grid, AirFrance and Rolls-Royce.

“If we take the right steps, we can secure a low carbon‐emission economy that is more resilient, more efficient and less vulnerable to global shocks,” says the Communiqué, the statement put forth by the group. “But time is short for effective action to address the threat of climate change.”

The 2˚C Challenge name refers to a goal set last year at the Cancún Climate Summit to not allow global temperatures to rise more than two degrees Celsius. But climate models show this target may already be impossible to meet.

The details of the 2˚C Challenge might look familiar – they are the very points nearly 200 nations have been hoping and promising to achieve for years. But, so far, no substantive commitments have been made on an international level.

Here is what the corporations call for:

•A carbon tax and other market-based solutions to drive investment away from fossil fuels

•Prompt and continuous transfer of money and technology to developing nations

•Public-private partnerships designed to drastically advance research, development and deployment of low-carbon technologies

•Public policy that would provide long-term market certainty

•Efforts to reduce deforestation

•Efforts to reduce emissions from international shipping and aviation

•Encouraging energy efficiency across all sectors

Again, there’s nothing new in the demands except who they are coming from. Kingfisher PLC is sort of a European Home Depot, with about 900 stores throughout Europe and Asia. CEO Ian Cheshire says world governments must work together with a sense of urgency. "I take our environmental responsibilities personally. It’s part of our corporate heritage. But a business can only do so much. Climate change is a shared global challenge, requiring a shared global solution."

The Communiqué is open for more corporate signatures over the next six weeks. Click here to see a list of signatories by continent.

Back to Living on Earth


 

Living on Earth wants to hear from you!

Living on Earth
62 Calef Highway, Suite 212
Lee, NH 03861
Telephone: 617-287-4121
E-mail: comments@loe.org

Newsletter [Click here]

Donate to Living on Earth!
Living on Earth is an independent media program and relies entirely on contributions from listeners and institutions supporting public service. Please donate now to preserve an independent environmental voice.

Newsletter
Living on Earth offers a weekly delivery of the show's rundown to your mailbox. Sign up for our newsletter today!

Sailors For The Sea: Be the change you want to sea.

Creating positive outcomes for future generations.

Innovating to make the world a better, more sustainable place to live. Listen to the race to 9 billion

The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment: Committed to protecting and improving the health of the global environment.

Contribute to Living on Earth and receive, as our gift to you, an archival print of one of Mark Seth Lender's extraordinary wildlife photographs. Follow the link to see Mark's current collection of photographs.

Buy a signed copy of Mark Seth Lender's book Smeagull the Seagull & support Living on Earth