Business Summit is Crucial to a Successful New Climate Treaty, Says UN
Secretary-General
(
New York, 6 March 2009
) - At a time when the world faces twin crises involving climate and
the global economy, the World Business Summit on Climate Change, 24-26 May in Copenhagen, presents
a historic opportunity for business to input recommendations that support recovery and green growth
as part of a successful new climate change treaty. These recommendations will be presented to the
Danish government, host of COP15, and to UNFCCC Executive-Secretary Yvo de Boer, as a contribution
to the final six months of negotiations.
The Summit will take place four months before the High-level Event on Climate Change the
Secretary-General will host on 22 September in New York, which will focus on the key political
issues still to be resolved during final negotiations leading up to COP15. Mr. Ban has
consistently stressed the need to conclude those negotiations successfully, and the important role
the global business community can play in that effort.
“The World Business Summit on Climate Change has a crucial contribution to make in helping
the world on a path towards a truly sustainable future,” says UN Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon. He adds: “The world relies on global business leaders to deliver technology,
innovation and investment. Governments and the United Nations must work with and understand what
businesses need in order to boost sustainable investments, low-carbon products and clean energy. A
Copenhagen Protocol must be balanced, comprehensive, and ratifiable by all nations. Together, we
can turn the risk into opportunity by improving our economy and safeguarding the planet”.
The only meeting of its kind, the Summit will bring together CEO’s from the world’s leading
companies, government leaders, including ministers and heads of state, eminent scientists, experts
and other high profile thought leaders. Participants include Al Gore, Former US Vice President and
now Chairman of Generation Investment Management; Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chair of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister;
James E. Rogers, Chairman, President and CEO of Duke Energy; Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo; Li
Xiaolin, Chairwoman and CEO of China Power International and Sir Richard Branson, Founder and CEO
of Virgin Group, among others.
A by invitation only event, the Summit presents the single best opportunity in 2009 to
develop models that will reboot the economy while safeguarding the planet. In addition it presents
a unique opportunity to offer input via a virtual online platform, ‘The Climate Community,’ which
launches next week at
www.copenhagenclimatecouncil.com
The
Virtual Summit will contain the most up-to-date reports, publications and research on key issues to
be addressed at the Summit, as well as highlighting the companies and CEO’s that have demonstrated
global leadership and a commitment to addressing climate change – the innovators and implementers
of a low-carbon future.
Participants will have the opportunity to shape the framework of the Summit as well as
influence the recommendations that will come out of it. These recommendations will be presented to
the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and UNFCCC Executive-Secretary Yvo de Boer at the
close of the Summit in the form of a business manifesto, the Copenhagen Call.
Event
Website
About the Copenhagen Climate Council
The Copenhagen Climate Council is a global
collaboration between international business and science founded by the leading independent think
tank in Scandinavia, Monday Morning. The members of the Copenhagen Climate Council have come
together to create global awareness of the importance of the UN Climate Change Conference, in
Copenhagen, in December 2009.
Media Contact
Matthias Stausberg
Spokesperson
UN Global Compact
stausberg@un.org
+1-917-367-3423
