10/06/2005 - Big business
last night joined the chorus of voices demanding
tough action on climate change and global
warming.
The chairmen and CEOs of 23 multinational
companies, including car producers Toyota,
Ford and Volkswagen, oil companies BP and
Petrobas, as well as British wairways and
HSBC, are calling on the leaders of the world's
biggest economies to set out a global plan
of action to combat climate change.
"We share the belief that climate change
poses one of the most significant challenges
of the 21st century," said the business
leaders. "We agree that the science is
sufficiently compelling to warrant action
by both the private and public sector. Action
must be initiated now."
Key demands include that governments must
use public procurement to ram home the climate
message, promote low carbon technology, share
information and push for environment friendly
economic growth in developing countries.
The statement was issued last night in London,
by the G8 Climate Change Roundtable, an action
platform set up by the companies and the World
Economic Forum.
"The G8 leaders have their task cut
out, and it will be obvious to the world if
they succeed and fail," said Jennifer
Morgan, Director of the WWF Climate Change
Programme. "it is hartening to see that
the call for action now spreads all sectors
of society, from NGOs to science to big business
- the G8 leaders cannot anymore refuse to
listen and act."
