BSR Insight | UN Climate Chief Calls on Business to Lead a Global Solution
About the Author(s)
Ryan Schuchard, Manager, Climate and Energy
Publication Date
December 14, 2010
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Last week, the UN finished its 16th annual climate negotiations in Cancun, Mexico. As observers grew frustrated by the continually slow progress, negotiators started paying greater attention to business’ role in taking the lead.
While some businesses are already engaged, Christiana Figueres, chief of the UN climate body, urged them to do more. She stressed the need for companies to tell their home governments well ahead of UN conferences that strong climate legislation is essential.
"We are stuck because the private sector is acting as a handbrake to governments."
—Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (December 6, 2010)
At the same time, Figueres called on business to not wait for governments to lead the world to a low-carbon economy. She instead encouraged companies to step ahead of governments by helping suppliers and customers reduce their emissions and by transforming their sectors through partnerships with peers to scale-up innovation and technological solutions, including clean energy in developing countries.
For more information on how business can lead on climate solutions, read the BSR Review or contact Ryan Schuchard.
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