Environment News
Finlays in support of higher climate change targets
Finlays Managing Director Ron Mathison was asked to sign a letter in support of the UK's energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne, in his effort to persuade the European Union to toughen its targets on reducing greehnouse gas emissions.
The following press release by University of Cambridge, Programme for Sustainability Leadership explains:
Major European companies come out in support of higher climate change targets
CEOs from some of the European Union’s largest companies have come out in support of moves by the UK, France and Germany to shift the EU to a higher greenhouse gas emissions reduction target. In a letter published simultaneously in The Financial Times, Le Monde and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the 27 business leaders [1] argue that:
“By moving to a higher target, the EU will have a direct impact on the carbon price through to 2020 and deliver the economic signals that companies need if they are to continue investing billions of Euros in low carbon products, services, technologies and infrastructure. European leadership will also help rebuild the international momentum towards an ambitious, robust and equitable global deal on climate change”.
The letter is in response to an article published in the same newspapers on 15 July 2010 in which the climate change ministers for the UK, Germany and France (Chris Huhne, Jean-Louis Borloo and Dr Norbert Röttgen) set out the economic benefits for increasing Europe’s climate change targets for 2020 from 20% to 30%.
The cross sector group of businesses behind the letter includes many household names such as Asda, Barilla, BT, Deutsche Telecom, Lloyds Banking Group, Nestlé, Philips, Skai, Tesco, Thames Water and Vodafone as well as sector leaders such as Acciona, Allianz, Beluga Shipping, Centrica, Otto Group and Kingfisher.
They end the letter by stating:
“The EU’s future competitive advantage lies in encouraging and enabling its businesses to help drive the transformational change that will occur in the world economy within the next couple of decades, not to hide from it”.
The letter is an initiative of The University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL) which works with business, government and civil society to help leaders address critical global challenges.
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QUOTES FROM SIGNATORIES TO LETTER:
Jose Manuel Entrecanales Domecq, Chairman of Acciona said:
"We need 21st century energies to build the 21st century economy. From our company's standpoint, to review the 20% greenhouse gas reduction target, even in the absence of a strong international agreement, makes economic sense because it will strengthen European leadership. Reaching a target beyond 20% will unlock innovation and financing potential, and will increase European industry's readiness for new growth and development opportunities as the markets for low-carbon, high-efficiency goods and services expand. Socially it will contribute to the European energy supply security, and will contribute with new direct and indirect jobs through Europe; lastly, environmentally, increasing the emission reduction target will help Europe to reach the 450ppm goal we need to keep global warming within the 2ºC limit by 2050."
Harrie L.J. Noy, CEO, ARCADIS said:
“ARCADIS strongly endorses further European carbon emission reductions to reverse climate change and keep Europe competitive. As a company we actively participate in the development of carbon reduction solutions and European investments in this area would also serve to stimulate highly necessary innovations in this field.”
Andy Clarke, President & CEO of Asda Stores Ltd said:
“As a business which has put sustainability at its heart Asda has seen at first hand the benefits that reducing carbon emissions brings. The 7% reduction in absolute carbon emissions we made over the last 2 years alone has saved us millions of pounds, which we’ve invested in lower prices for our customers. We need a strong European carbon reduction target to ensure that companies invest in the technology needed to reduce carbon emissions in the future“.
Sir Michael Rake, Chairman of BT said:
"Increasing the European target will accelerate the arrival of the low carbon economy and improve the region's competitiveness in international markets."
Christine Hodgson, CEO, Capgemini Technology Services, North West Europe said:
“Capgemini recognises the need for businesses to work in partnership with governments in tackling climate change. We strongly support the call from UK Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne, German Federal Environment Minister Dr Norbert Röttgen and French Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo that Europe must continue to take the lead in decarbonising the world economy. As signatories of the Bali, Poznan and Copenhagen Communiqués, Capgemini has put sustainability at the heart of our business. We are committed both morally and contractually to reducing our impact on the environment. We are also supporting our clients with their own sustainability challenges”.
Sam Laidlaw, CEO of Centrica said:
“We support tightening the carbon reduction target to 30%, a move that will enable society as a whole to reduce its impact on the environment and to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. At Centrica we understand we must continue to transform our business to meet the needs of a low carbon future. We’re already making strong inroads with our involvement in low-carbon nuclear energy and we will continue to be a leader in offshore wind generation. We are also building our skills and capabilities in energy efficiency, smart metering and microgeneration, improving people’s homes and helping to reduce their energy bills in the process”.
Bertrand van Ee, CEO of DHV Group said:
”The DHV Group provides services for the sustainable development of our living environment. Sustainable business is a driver for economic growth. The faster we move as a continent, the better“.
Alain Grisay, CEO of F&C said:
“As long-term investors we strongly believe that clear and robust climate change policies now are essential to avoid potentially enormous economic damages later. Europe has in many ways led the charge, with the world’s first economy-wide emissions trading system, and ambitious policies on renewable energy and energy efficiency. But the carbon price is currently languishing at levels far below what is needed to shift investment decisions from high-carbon to low-carbon options.
Raising the 2020 level of ambition beyond the current 20% goal would provide a powerful signal to investors and business that climate policy is here to stay, and that investing in cleaner alternatives is both right for the planet and right for shareholder value”.
Ron Mathison, Managing Director, James Finlay Ltd said:
“Sustainability is the only future we have”.
Ian Cheshire, Group CEO of Kingfisher plc (including B&Q and Castorama) said:
"The move to a 30% target is a welcome one and may prove to be a very positive step towards achieving a global deal at COP16 in Cancun this December.
However, consumers should not be ignored as we progress. The experience of Kingfisher’s businesses across Europe shows that there is a strong appetite among the public to reduce individual carbon impact. Governments must harness this by allowing business to change consumer behaviour for the better through the right incentives".
Neil Carson, CEO of Johnson Matthey said:
“In these uncertain times, if industry is to risk investing in new low carbon technologies, its even more important that governments show that reducing carbon emissions is a non negotiable requirement and that it will be supported by strong policies”.
Jean-Paul Agon, CEO of L'Oreal said:
"L'Oreal is already showing leadership in its sector by publicly committing itself to a 50% reduction by 2015 (2005 baseline)"
Truett Tate, Group Executive Director (Wholesale) for Lloyds Banking Group said:
“The market for low carbon goods and services is growing swiftly. However, this is a globally competitive market and measures like increasing the European emission reduction target to 30% will help to create the market conditions that will enable UK and European businesses to seize the commercial opportunities in a way that will secure competitive advantage and support economic recovery.”
Paul Bulcke, CEO, Nestlé said:
"While the world is rightly moving to address the challenges presented by climate change and depleting supplies of fossil fuels, the same awareness and consensus does not exist when it comes to addressing our usage of water."
Rudy Provoost, Member Board of Management, Royal Philips Electronics and CEO Philips Lighting said:
“Now is not the time for the EU to step on the brakes and give up its leadership position. Instead the EU should speed up the transition to a low carbon society, as we firmly believe there is a wide range of benefits for consumers, the environment and the economy. At Philips we have set the ambitious target to improve the energy efficiency of our entire portfolio by 50% by 2015. We believe we can set even more ambitious targets for beyond 2015 if the EU provides a clear, ambitious and long term commitment towards a low carbon economy.”
EDITORS’ NOTES
[1] The full list of signatories is as follows:
Jean-Paul Agon, CEO, L’Oreal
Martin Baggs, CEO, Thames Water
Paolo Barilla, Vice Chairman, Barilla
Paul Bulcke, CEO, Nestlé
Neil Carson, CEO, Johnson Matthey
Ian Cheshire, Group CEO, Kingfisher (including B&Q and Castorama)
Andy Clarke, President and CEO, Asda Stores Ltd
Keith Clarke, CEO, WS Atkins
Reinhard Clemens, Member of the Board of Management, Deutsche Telekom AG, CEO, T-Systems International GmbH
Vittorio Colao, CEO, Vodafone
Bertrand van Ee, CEO, DHV Group
Jose Manuel Entrecanales Domecq, Chairman, Acciona
Dr. Joachim Faber, Member of the Board of Allianz SE
Annika Falkengren, President & CEO, SEB
Alain Grisay, CEO, F&C
Christine Hodgson, CEO, Capgemini Technology Services, North West Europe, Capgemini
Sam Laidlaw, CEO, Centrica
Ron Mathison, Managing Director, James Finlay Ltd
Charlie Mayfield, Chairman, John Lewis Partnership
Lucy Neville-Rolfe, CMG, Corporate & Legal Affairs Director; Member of the Board of Directors, Tesco
Harrie L.J. Noy, CEO, ARCADIS
Dr. Michael Otto, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Otto Group
Rudy Provoost, Member Board of Management, Royal Philips Electronics, CEO, Philips Lighting
Sir Michael Rake, Chairman, BT
Ioannis Spanolios, General Manager, SKAI Group of Companies
Niels Stolberg, President & CEO, Beluga Shipping GmbH
Truett Tate, Group Executive Director, Wholesale, Lloyds Banking Group
[2] About the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership
The University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL) works with business, government and civil society to build leaders’ capacity to meet the needs of society and address critical global challenges. Its seminars and leadership groups and its partnerships with those who make or influence decisions are designed to transform public and private sector policies and practices and build greater understanding of our interdependence with one another and the natural world. Its network of alumni brings together the most influential leaders in the world who share an interest in and a commitment to creating a sustainable future.
CPSL is an institution within the School of Technology. It works in close collaboration with individual academics and many other departments of the University. HRH The Prince of Wales is its patron and it is also a member of The Prince’s Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which His Royal Highness is President.
