USCIB Members Meet with European Climate Commissioner

EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard
EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard

On May 12 in New York, USCIB held a business dialogue with EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard at the European Union Delegation office to the United Nations.  The off-the-record session provided an opportunity to hold a dynamic discussion of global climate change matters in an informal setting.

USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson introduced Commissioner Hedegaard and reviewed USCIB’s role, as American affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce, in discussions under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.  This has included a strong American business presence at last December’s UN climate summit in Copenhagen, over which Commissioner Hedegaard presided as Danish environment minister.

Also leading the discussion were Ann Condon (General Electric), chair of USCIB’s Environment and Energy Committee, and Brian Fix (Salans LLP), who chairs USCIB’s European Union Committee.

The commissioner and participants spoke about a variety of key issues, including this fall’s climate talks in Cancún and the UN agenda for 2011, China’s actions on energy efficiency, and better ways for the business community to engage in global climate discussions.  USCIB members may contact Justine Bareford (jbareford@uscib.org) for a confidential summary of the meeting.

Staff contact: Justine Bareford

Commissioner Hedegaard’s website

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

More on USCIB’s European Union Committee

Business Gears Up for UN Commission on Sustainable Development

3978_image001Join USCIB and the International Chamber of Commerce as we represent business and industry at the upcoming meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), May 3-14 at United Nations headquarters in New York City.

For two weeks, USCIB representatives will attend the 18th session of UN CSD, and we are actively seeking USCIB members to take part in the delegation.

The CSD reviews international governmental actions and implementation of commitments arising from Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, with a specific focus on chemicals, mining, sustainable consumption and production, transport and waste management.

CSD-18 will provide U.S. companies and business organizations with an opportunity to review policies relating to the five focus areas.  It will also serve as a forum for business and industry to showcase positive efforts being made in these areas of sustainable development, and to present successful examples of progress and achievement.

During CSD-18, USCIB and ICC will facilitate business and industry input and participation.  As part of a recognized “major group,” industry representatives can participate through interventions, question-and-answer sessions, and presentations in several interactive portions of the two-week agenda.

To learn more about the CSD 18 meetings, agenda and themes, please visit http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/csd/csd_csd18.shtml.

Please contact Kate Whitelaw (kwhitelaw@uscib.org) by April 29 if you wish to take advantage of any of the following opportunities:

  • Participate in the ICC delegation to CSD-18
  • Be kept abreast of developments in CSD-18
  • Be consulted when we seek comments on draft statements to CSD-18
  • Offer examples of progress or achievement towards sustainable development in the thematic areas of chemicals, mining, sustainable consumption and production, transport and waste management.

We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to shape global policies on these vital areas of sustainable development, and to help us highlight how American business is bringing important progress to the five themes presented at UN CSD.

Staff contacts: Norine Kennedy, Kate Whitelaw

UN Commission on Sustainable Development website

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

Copenhagen Climate Summit Latest statements and information

Latest statements and information from USCIB and our global business network

USCIB and its global business network have actively contributed to international discussions of climate change for many years.  Our unique affiliations with leading worldwide business groups – in particular the International Chamber of Commerce – provide an invaluable channel through which to influence the course of global policies and regulations affecting business, the environment, energy and sustainable development.

At the December 2009 UN climate change summit in Copenhagen, USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson joined members and ICC-affiliated companies from around the world in making the business case for concerted action to combat global warming.

Here are links to the latest statements and actions on climate change from USCIB and our global network. Please contact USCIB Vice President Norine Kennedy (nkennedy@uscib.org) for additional information or to get involved.

USCIB:

International Chamber of Commerce:

Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD:

International Organization of Employers: