Climate Action 2012-2013

COP18 AND BEYOND
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres
and these solutions can be more widely adopted
with the right level of support. Governments,
civil society groups and communities must view
business as an indispensable ally in applying
concrete solutions to address the myriad of
challenges posed by climate change.
framework. By engaging directly in the UNFCCC
process at the Conference of Parties, C4C
companies can share solutions and commitments,
and spur concrete action plans and partnerships in
pursuit of international co-operation on climate
change. At COP17 in Durban in 2011, 20 leading
companies met with UNFCCC Executive
Secretary Christiana Figueres to disseminate best
and emerging practices, and to discuss with policymakers
the need to set clear policy frameworks
and incentives that enable business to scale and
intensify climate change efforts.
At the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum
held in June 2012, C4C signatories made concrete
commitments to advance the sustainability
agenda – including a joint statement on reporting
endorsed by 25 companies as well as solutions and
partnerships in support of the Rio+20 agenda.
The initiative also released a case compendium
highlighting 10 corporate climate champions
that are strengthening their own competitive
edge while contributing to adaptive capacity
and resilience in communities that are highly
vulnerable to climate change.
While Caring for Climate represents a critical
and growing mass of companies tackling climate
change, the initiative has not yet penetrated the
majority of the UN Global Compact’s 7,000
business participants. Progress is visible in many
areas, but the urgency and scope of climate
challenges require broader and even more
concerted efforts.
Engagement by the private sector that is
collaborative, serious and solutions-oriented is vital,
and can help ensure that climate negotiations are a
launching ground for widespread action in support
of sustainability. There is enormous potential to
produce results if greater scale is achieved. Leading
technological and social innovations already exist,
“There is enormous potential to
produce results if greater scale
is achieved.”
Today, we can say with confidence that corporate
sustainability and climate action are a global
movement. For this to become a transformative
force, however, we need to win over more
companies to take action. Ultimately, this battle
will be won only once climate champions
become the majority, and once all chambers of
commerce, employer federations and other
mainstream business associations are willing to
support these efforts.
The private sector can be an instrumental part of
the climate change solution, but addressing the
impacts of climate change requires a purposeful
departure from business as usual. Corporate
climate leaders must intensify their own efforts
and accelerate progress to advance the global
climate change agenda. For those that take the
challenge at hand seriously, building resilience and
adapting to climate change will create true shared
value for business and communities alike.
Georg Kell is the Executive Director of the UN Global
Compact. A key architect of the Global Compact, he has
led the initiative since its founding in 2000, establishing
the most widely recognised multi-stakeholder network and
action platform to advance responsible business practices.
The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy
initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning
their operations and strategies with universally
accepted principles. It is the world’s largest voluntary
corporate sustainability initiative with 7,000 corporate
participants in 135 countries.
To learn more about Caring for Climate, visit
www.caringforclimate.org.
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