Climate Action 2012-2013

COP18 AND BEYOND
of the most dedicated companies to addressing
climate change and yet their recent environmental
performance highlights the real challenges in
decoupling carbon emissions from business
growth. Although the data shows that many C4C
signatories have made a concerted effort to
address the climate challenge, there is clearly an
opportunity to do more.
BECOMING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS
While most businesses engaged on the climate
challenge have focused their efforts on reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, many of the initiative’s
top performers are establishing themselves as
climate champions within their organisations
and in their broader spheres of influence. Based
on a review of publicly available information
reported by companies in 2011 to the Carbon
Disclosure Project and Communications on
Progress – Climate, more than a quarter of the
353 signatories have met all five commitments.
Nearly two-thirds of total C4C signatories, most
of which are large companies, have met three or
more of the commitments agreed upon when
joining the initiative.
Climate champions recognise the risks that
climate change poses, not only for their
operations, but also for suppliers, employees,
customers and people living in the communities
in which they operate. Businesses are beginning to
recognise opportunities to expand operations and
increase their market share through developing
climate-resilient products and services to help
communities, industry peers and governments
adapt. Corporate climate leaders that rigorously
assess climate change risks and opportunities
and implement creative solutions for longterm
resilience will create business value while
making important contributions to sustainable
development and equitable green growth.
USING TECHNOLOGY
TO ACCELERATE CHANGE
Substantial progress has been made by the private
sector on climate change by implementing
new technologies. Often a single technological
innovation can significantly enhance the energy
efficiency of business processes, reduce the cost
of a renewable technology, improve access to
energy sources or help improve resilience to
climate change. Certain technologies reduce
impacts within a particular industry, while other
innovations can enable other societal actors to
meet the energy and climate challenge. Caring
“Nearly two-thirds of total C4C
signatories have met three or
more of the commitments.”
for Climate signatories are often at the forefront
of these efforts by developing solutions that help
all stakeholder groups adapt to climate change,
and investing in the rollout of modern energy
infrastructure and services.
On the renewable energy front, companies are
creating organic photovoltaic solar panels that
can be installed in unique locations such as the
exterior walls of buildings and automobiles. They
are developing more efficient wind turbines
using reduced-weight, aerodynamic fibres, and
are improving energy storage through the largescale
deployment of wind and solar power. In
terms of alternative energy sources, breakthroughs
in the fields of chemistry and biotechnology
have enabled companies to develop and improve
next-generation biofuels with less impact on food
supplies. And corporate efforts to develop enabling
technologies, for example through mobile phone
applications, are helping farmers to build resilience
and NGOs to efficiently gather data, while
improving the accuracy and timeliness of climaterelated
information analysis and decision-making.
“Often a single technological
innovation can significantly
enhance energy efficiency.”
SCALING UP CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
Business is uniquely positioned to address the
environmental, social and development challenges
related to energy and climate. Its contributions to
climate change mitigation and adaptation support
sustainable development and efforts to build the
Green Economy while promoting a company’s
viability, profitability and competitive edge.
Caring for Climate signatories are not only at the
forefront of climate innovation, technologies and
solutions, but have shown significant commitment
to help achieve a robust climate change policy
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