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The Bali Communiqué

The Bali Communiqué Press Release:

30 November 2007

150 global business leaders call for legally binding UN framework to tackle climate change

The business leaders of 150 global companies have today published a communiqué to world leaders calling for a comprehensive, legally binding United Nations framework to tackle climate change. The initiative represents an unprecedented coming together of the international business community and includes some of the biggest companies and brands from around the world, including the United States, Europe, Australia and China. It has been led by The Prince of Wales’s UK and EU Corporate Leaders Groups on Climate Change, which are developed and run by the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry. The leaders hope that the initiative is likely to have a significant impact on the UN climate negotiations starting next week in Bali, Indonesia.

In an article published in today’s Financial Times, The Prince of Wales congratulates the companies for showing “remarkable leadership” and expresses his “fervent hope” that the communiqué “will strengthen the resolve of those gathered in Bali to make the tough decisions the world so urgently needs”. The communiqué also appears in full in a double-page spread in today’s global edition of the Financial Times.

The communiqué notes that “The scientific evidence is now overwhelming” and that “climate change presents very serious global social, environmental and economic risks and it demands an urgent global response”. It presents a strong business case for action by stating that “As business leaders, it is our belief that the benefits of strong, early action on climate change outweigh the costs of not acting”. It notes that the costs of action are manageable but that each year of delay will result in greater disruption. The leaders also state that “The shift to a low-carbon economy will create significant business opportunities”.

The 150 global companies go on to argue that a “sufficiently ambitious, international and comprehensive legally-binding United Nations agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will provide business with the certainty it needs to scale up global investment in low-carbon technologies”. This is significant because there is still a debate in the international community as to whether a mandatory or voluntary approach is most appropriate.

But most significantly, the business leaders argue that “the overall targets for emissions reduction must be guided primarily by science”. This is in contrast to the argument that has previously been made by some parts of the business community that it is concerns over competitiveness and cost that should set the limit of emission cuts. The leaders note that evidence from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) already points to a reduction being required of “at least 50% by 2050” and comment that the “greatest effort” will need to be made by those countries that have already industrialised.

In reference to the Bali meeting, the companies urge world leaders to “seize this window of opportunity” and agree a “work-plan of comprehensive negotiations” to ensure an agreement can come into force post 2012 (when the existing Kyoto Protocol expires).

US based companies in support of the communiqué include Coca-Cola, Dupont, Gap, GE, Johnson and Johnson, Nike, Pacific Gas and Electric, Sun Microsystems and United Technologies. European based companies include Anglo-American, British Airways, F&C Asset Management, Ferrovial, Nestle, Nokia, Rolls Royce, Shell, Tesco, Virgin and Volkswagen while Australian based companies include Insurance Australia Group, Macquarie, National Australia Bank, News Corporation and Westpac.

Significantly, the communiqué has also been signed by a number of Chinese companies including Shanghai Electric, Zhufeng Technology and Suntech.

James Smith, the Chair of Shell UK said: "The message from the international business community couldn't be clearer. A comprehensive, legally-binding United Nations agreement to tackle climate change will provide business with the certainty it needs to scale up global investment in low carbon technologies. The cost of inaction far out weighs the cost of taking action now. It is crucial that, at the Bali conference, countries agree a work plan of comprehensive negotiations to ensure a robust policy framework is in place, to guide us forward over the coming decades."

Alain Grisay, CEO of F&C Asset Management said: “Business and investors can only play their part in tackling climate change if governments take decisive action to make this possible. This problem will not get solved through market forces alone in the time that we have left to act, because climate change presents a textbook example of market failure. This means that voluntary targets won’t do: business needs a level playing field in order to take on the financial risks that adequate action on climate change requires”.

Tony Juniper, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, welcomed the initiative: “The shift to a low carbon economy is not only an environmental imperative but also an unprecedented economic and social opportunity. Scaling up clean energy systems and using energy more efficiently could not only slash emissions, but help to improve the quality of life for billions of people and create millions of jobs. Time is now short, however, and if we are to have a good chance of cutting emissions by a sufficient amount we need to act right away, and that is why we need a strong outcome from the Bali talks, and that is why it is so important that so many companies have signalled their support for governments to negotiate a deal that is up to the task at hand”.

Polly Courtice, Director of CPI commented: "The University of Cambridge Programme for Industry helps leaders from the public and private sectors understand and act upon the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development. So we are delighted to be working through The Prince of Wales Corporate Leaders’ Groups on Climate Change to bring together so many global companies who are calling on world leaders to take bold and urgent action in the face of climate change"

The Bali Communiqué is being sent direct to the 130 Environment Ministers that will be attending the Bali conference. It will also be handed personally to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, who will be attending the conference in its second week.

Editor’s Notes

1. The Prince of Wales’s UK and EU Corporate Leaders Groups have been developed by The University of Cambridge Programme for Industry. Members of the groups include: ABN AMRO, AIG, Allianz SE, Anglian Water Group, AXA Insurance, BAA, BskyB, Centrica, Deutsche Telekom AG, Enel SpA, E.On, F&C Asset Management, John Lewis Partnership, Johnson Matthey, Kingfisher, Lloyds TSB, Philips Lighting, Reckitt Benckiser, Schneider Electric, Shell, Skanska AB, Standard Chartered Bank, StatoilHydro, Sun Microsystems, Tesco, Unilever, Vodafone.

More information on the groups is available at: www.cpi.cam.ac.uk/bep/clgcc

2. The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2007 in Bali will start on Monday, 3 December and close on Friday, 14 December 2007. The Conference will be presided over by Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, with support from the UN’s Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC), headed by Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer. The first week will involve negotiations among the Parties at the level of high-ranking government officials on a wide range of issues. On Wednesday, 12 December, the high-level segment will start with addresses by the UN Secretary-General and the President of Indonesia. It is expected to be attended by 130 Environment Ministers. More information is available at: http://unfccc.int/

3. The Bali Communiqué and a full list of signatories is available at: www.balicommunique.com

Press enquiries: for further information please contact Genevieve Maul, University of Cambridge Press office 01223 332300 gm349@admin.cam.ac.uk
 


Bali Climate Change Conference

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Bush clings to anti-Kyoto stance ahead of climate talks

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NASA Map Reveals Clear View of Frozen Continent

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Venus offers Earth climate clues

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Meat, poultry, vegetables feel heat from global warming

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Then there was one: US now alone as Kyoto holdout

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Guyana Rainforest Proposal

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Bidder pays $40,800 for butterfly name

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New Wallpaper Download Website: Wallpapers247.com

Please check out our new website wallpapers247.com where you can download wallpapers for your computers desktop background, we offer from nature images like birds animals and plants to jungle scenes from Panama and snowy landscapes from the Swiss Alps or Art from the Louvre in Paris and King Ludwigs Castles in Bavaria Germany. Plus new images are added all the time so best bookmark that website! Enjoy some fresh eco desktop look on your PC! :)


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U.N. report: Urgent action needed on 'severe' climate change

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US wants freeze on tuna fishing

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Whale found beached in deep Amazon rain forest

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FOX Attacks the Environment

Petition: foxattacks.com You won't believe the lies and misinformation Fox News is spreading about global warming and climate change.


US, China working on biofuels pact

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Climate report to warn of potentially 'irreversible' impacts

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WFP chief warns of "perfect storm" food crisis in west Africa

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Environmentalists: Protect sea turtles

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Biofuels bonanza facing 'crash'

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Greenhouse gases rising faster than UN forecasts: report

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Understanding the climate ostrich

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Australians named worst emitters

BBC News reports here: A study of the world's power stations has shown the extent to which developed countries produce more carbon dioxide per head than emerging economies. Australians were found to be the world's worst polluters per capita, producing five times as much carbon from generating power as China.

The Top Ten Carbon Dioxide Emitters
National power sector emissions (in tonnes of CO2):

  1. US - 2,530 million
  2. China - 2,430 million
  3. Russia - 600 million
  4. India - 529 million
  5. Japan - 363 million
  6. Germany - 323 million
  7. Australia - 205 million
  8. South Africa - 201 million
  9. UK - 192 million
  10. South Korea - 168 million


Russian oil slick clean-up 'could take months': WWF

AFP reports here at Yahoo News: MOSCOW - A major oil spill off the southern coast of Russia could take months to clear, a top environmentalist said on Wednesday as the first charges were brought over the accident.


Japan emperor's woe over US fish

The bluegill wiped out the Japanese royal bitterling, BBC News reports here: Japan's Emperor Akihito has said he "feels pained" that he introduced an aggressive non-native species of fish to Japan nearly 50 years ago.

 


Learn how much your power plant pollutes

AP reports here: WASHINGTON - There's growing worry about global warming, but how much of it is the work of that power plant just outside town? And if Congress limits heat-trapping greenhouse gases, will it affect utility and electric bills? And who's the biggest corporate culprit when it comes to climate change?


Italians Fight for the Right to Love Black Cats

Spiegel Online reports here: Black cats get a bad rap, particularly in Italy where they are popularly associated with evil. Now in an effort to disassociate these maligned felines from superstition and stop an estimated 60,000 annual cat killings, Italy is to hold its first national Black Cat Day.