Environment Archives

Business Seeks to Take UN Green Growth Talks to the Next Level

Published on March 4, 2011
Business supports international cooperation towards greening economies and jobs.
Business supports international cooperation towards greening economies and jobs.

Under the auspices of USCIB’s affiliate the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), business representatives were front and center at UN preparatory talks last month in advance of next year’s landmark “Rio+20” environmental summit.

Martina Bianchini, director of EU government affairs and public policy for the Dow Chemical Company, and chair of ICC’s Green Economy Task Force, led the world business organization’s delegation to the 2011 UN Environment Program (UNEP) ministerial and governing council meetings.

The meetings, held February 17-24 in Nairobi, brought together environment ministers from over 80 countries to consider critical next steps in preparing the environmental input to the Rio+20 Conference in 2012.  Issues under discussion included new measures on chemicals, e-waste and heavy metals, and options to strengthen international environmental government institutions.

Speaking at a forum attended by UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner and U.S. Environmental Protection Authority Administrator Lisa Jackson, Ms Bianchini said: “Business supports international cooperation towards greening economies and jobs: in our view, to reach its full potential, the green economy concept must become global, seeking to green all elements of the economy.  The objective is to foster innovation, rather than mandate it.”

The ICC Green Economy Task Force plans to review and provide comments on the UNEP Green Economy Report, which was released at the Nairobi meetings.  Attending the UNEP meetings, Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s vice president for energy and environmental affairs, highlighted the report’s importance for considering how businesses across all sectors will contribute to progress towards environmental innovation, job creation and economic growth.  “The right enabling frameworks will amplify the opportunities for greener technologies and investments needed to take sustainable development to the next level,” she said.

Green economy, green growth policy and market options are being discussed in the G20, the OECD and a variety of other intergovernmental forums.  The “greening” of economies and jobs is seen as a response to a variety of economic, food, energy and environmental crises, and is an organizing theme of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to take place in Rio in 2012.

The ICC Green Economy Task Force was launched in October 2010 to provide international and multi-disciplinary business input via BASD2012 to Rio+20 preparations, and to engage with UNEP and other intergovernmental forums.  ICC will also co-host the UNEP global business dialogue in April to provide more in depth comments on the Green Economy Report, and showcase business’ major contributions in delivering jobs, investments and solutions required for the transition to a green economy.

Staff contact: Norine Kennedy

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

ICC website

BIAC Hosts International Green Economy Dialogue Conference

Published on January 10, 2011
BIAC Secretary General Tadahiro Asami (second from right) and USCIB’s Norine Kennedy (far right) at the Paris Green Economies Dialogue.
BIAC Secretary General Tadahiro Asami (second from right) and USCIB’s Norine Kennedy (far right) at the Paris Green Economies Dialogue.

On November 14, BIAC, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD, part of USCIB’s global network, welcomed nearly 100 experts from business, governments, OECD, UNEP and key academics to an International Business Green Economies Dialogue conference at the OECD headquarters.

The Paris conference was organized as the second part of a business-led series of discussions in North America, Europe, Asia and South America, in the run-up to the Rio+20 Earth Summit this June. The first conference took place in Washington in October, and two further conferences will be organized during the first half of 2012, one in Japan and one in Brazil, with the active participation of BIAC.

OECD Environment Ministerial to Contribute to Rio+20 Conference

On March 29-30, 2012 OECD environment ministers will discuss the outcome of the OECD Green Growth Strategy by supporting national and international efforts to achieve green growth. Environment ministers will be looking at what green growth means for environmental policy making.

A key part of the meeting will discuss how the Green Growth Strategy can be used by countries with different resource endowments, environmental pressures and states of development. As the OECD Environment Ministerial will take place ahead of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June, the OECD Ministerial will present an excellent opportunity for ministers to make a positive contribution to Rio+20.

The new OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050 will be an important input to the ministerial meeting, to which BIAC has actively contributed. BIAC participated in the Global Forum on the Environmental Outlook and submitted comments on four areas identified including climate change, biodiversity, water and the health impacts of pollution, highlighting key business considerations and the proactive contribution that business can make to address these challenges.

BIAC will play an active role at the March 2012 Environment Ministerial and provide direct business input to the discussions.

The Green Economy Dialogue project launched by USCIB, the United States Council Foundation (USCF) and BIAC with support from a range of sponsors and partners, aims to promote a productive approach to greener growth, intending to increase dialogue with governments in the run-up to Rio+20 and to share business views. In addition, the project involves commissioning a number of peer-reviewed, academic papers on various aspects of green growth and green economy to inform the debate leading up to Rio+20 and going forward after the event.

The Paris conference focused on green growth carried out by the OECD including specific sessions on green growth for development and job creation, policy instruments, energy and resource efficiency. Sessions included presentations of key academics, followed by reactions from experts from business, national governments and international organizations. It was highlighted that green growth policies should help maximize growth across the economy, with necessary investments to progress it further.

Many governments highlighted the importance of flexible bottom-up approaches and partnerships as a way forward.

Staff Contact: Norine Kennedy

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

USCIB Spearheads Multilateral Business Consultations on Climate Change

Published on December 9, 2010

Focus on possible trade ramifications of actions to curb warming

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressing the UN climate talks in Cancun.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressing the UN climate talks in Cancun.

Cancun, Mexico and New York, N.Y., December 9, 2010 — As governments struggle to make progress at the UN climate change talks in Cancun, business groups from the leading economies have put forward recommendations on various aspects of a possible global agreement to curb global warming, according to the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which spearheaded the talks.

The Business Major Economies Forum (BizMEF), which groups top business federations from the G20 and other major nations, held talks in Cancun yesterday.  Business leaders reviewed the current state of negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and determined where their initial position papers were most applicable to the state of talks at COP 16 as well as ongoing discussions in the Major Economies Forum, which groups the governments of the top emitters of greenhouse gases worldwide.

“BizMEF is unique in including business voices from both developed and developing countries,” stated USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “Indeed, both India and China sent business federation representatives to our meeting yesterday.  We had a chance to present BizMEF to government representatives from the United States, the European Union, Germany, Canada and Denmark at the ensuing luncheon.  We are seeking to open a channel of communications between BizMEF and MEF proper, to support their initiatives, and to inform their deliberations with the business community’s perspectives on the state of play in major markets.”

The BizMEF meeting was co-chaired by Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s Vice President for Energy and Environment, and Michael Basurto of the Mexican federation IDEAS.  Brian Flannery, Science, Strategy and Programs Manager with Exxon Mobil Corporation and co-chair of USCIB’s International Energy Group, briefed the gathering on prospects for post-2012 negotiations in the four areas covered by the BizMEF papers: technology; markets; measuring, reporting and verification; and low-carbon pathways.  In addition, the BizMEF website was officially launched at majoreconomiesbusinessforum.com.

USCIB was a founding member of BizMEF, which commenced its work in February 2009 at a meeting in Copenhagen.  BizMEF members include leading national industry federations, including USCIB and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Also among BizMEF’s participating organizations are major multisectoral industry federations including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), USCIB’s affiliate under whose banner businesses from around the world are attending the UN climate talks in Cancun.

Implications for trade

USCIB’s Mr. Robinson also spoke at a meeting in Cancun today organized by the International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development.  He warned that a failure by governments to agree on binding rules to address global warming could have serious fall-out in the area of international trade.

“One issue that will have a direct impact on options for addressing climate change is the issue of competitiveness.  If left unaddressed, this could cause an absolute train wreck, upending both efforts to address climate change and the urgent need to leverage trade and markets for economic development.”

Mr. Robinson said that, with national legislators under increasing pressure to protect industries and jobs, there is increasing danger of a collision between climate change and trade regimes.  He appealed to UN negotiators to reaffirm and respect existing language in the UNFCCC calling for the avoidance of actions to combat climate change that arbitrarily or unjustifiably restrict international trade.  He also called for the resumption of holding parallel meetings of national trade and environment ministers in concert with the COPs.

“Business and government have a common interest in ensuring the smooth and successful operation of markets to support both environmental improvements and economic development,” said Mr. Robinson.  “Therefore, both the public and the private sectors will need to cooperate closely to ensure their activities work in concert.”

About USCIB
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.

Contact:

Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 917.420.0039 (mobile), +1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

BizMEF website

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

Business Sets Sights on Deeper Engagement in Climate Talks

Published on November 30, 2010
4027_image001
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, pictured here at last December’s conference in Copenhagen, will attend the Cancun event.

New York, N.Y. and Cancun, Mexico, November 30, 2010 – Under the banner of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), global business has a strong and constructive presence at the United Nations climate change conference which began this week in Cancun, Mexico.  Business leaders are seeking enhanced channels for engagement to ensure that the process benefits from the private sector’s dynamism and expertise, according to ICC’s American affiliate.

“Cancun offers an important opportunity to take steps toward meaningful global action beyond 2012 that involves all countries and the business community in a climate-friendly return to economic growth,” said Peter M. Robinson, president and CEO of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB).

Mr. Robinson said for global talks to succeed, the private sector must be a partner, since “it will deliver the lion’s share of the technology, capital and know-how to address this global challenge.”  He will be in Cancun for the second half of the two-week diplomatic conference, where he will join Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s vice president for energy and environment, and a sizeable business contingent.

The Paris-based ICC is the largest, most representative business organization in the world, providing private-sector views to the UN and other multilateral bodies, as well as national governments.  Its thousands of member companies in over 140 countries, including Mexico, have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise.

In its role as the official business and industry focal point in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, ICC continues to work for closer cooperation between governments and business, and strives to ensure that governments create an enabling framework for business to continue developing and implementing practical climate change solutions across the full range of emissions reductions, efficiency and adaptation.

In the lead-up to the Cancun gathering, ICC, along with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), helped facilitate business involvement in a series of discussions on topics critical to the negotiations. Initiated and sponsored by the Mexican government, the “Mexican Dialogues” aimed to provide informal private-sector input into the official process, and to increase understanding between business and governments on public/private-sector synergies in finance, markets and technology.

In Cancun, ICC will once again co-host the annual Business Day on December 6 with the WBCSD, which will focus on “building bridges” to deliver effective climate solutions.

Despite uncertainty after the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen last year, global business continues to support the development of a robust post-2012 framework agreement.

“Cancun can help drive the process forward by setting the conditions to stimulate private-sector investment and spur innovation in efficient and low-emitting technologies,” said Jean Guy Carrier, ICC’s secretary general.

Financing’s crucial role

In 2009, several governments committed to mobilize $100 billion (U.S.) a year for climate finance by 2020.  But such large flows will require responsible institutions with sound governance and increased trust.  In a letter last week to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, USCIB underscored the need for improved synergy of public monies and private finance to fight climate change.

In a separate statement, ICC stressed that business invests when there is a clear and predictable policy framework.  It urged negotiators to establish a set of clearly outlined financing goals and objective, transparent governance procedures to help businesses understand the public policy agenda on climate finance. Setting conditions and mobilizing finance will also be the focus of an ICC roundtable on December 1, co-hosted in partnership with Responding to Climate Change.

In addition, ICC is pressing negotiators to ensure that any agreement reached is workable, in terms of  promoting technology transfer in concert with markets and commercial transactions, and respects intellectual property rights. ICC will explore the issues involved in technology development and deployment in a panel event in Cancun on December 3.

ICC has also called on governments to assure the continuity of current UNFCCC market mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism.  ICC hopes that negotiators will send a strong signal to indicate the continuation after 2012 of market mechanisms that have a role to play in addressing climate change.

The world business body will be engaged for the duration of the Cancun talks and will host numerous briefings and events in addition to those noted above.  For more information on these events, please click here.

About USCIB
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation.  Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.

Contacts:

Jonathan Huneke, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

Mary Kelly, ICC (Cancun)
+33 6 09.01.11.32 or mary.kelly@iccwbo.org

Alba Rooney, ICC (Paris)
Tel: +33 1 49.53.28.22 or alba.rooney@iccwbo.org

USCIB letter to Secretary Geithner on climate financing

ICC statement on finance and climate change

ICC website

USCIB Members Meet with European Climate Commissioner

Published on May 20, 2010
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

Published on April 23, 2010

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 Leaves Critical Business Unfinished USCIB Urges A Return to Priorities

Published on December 22, 2009

USCIB urges a return to priorities

3960_image002New York, N.Y., December 22, 2009 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) acknowledges the recent Copenhagen climate conference as an important step towards a truly global, cooperative post-2012 framework, pending the clear expression of commitments and mitigation actions.  However, U.S. companies are disappointed that the UN process has not yet delivered a more ambitious agreement.

“For American business, reaching a clear, ambitious, inclusive and legally binding agreement is a critical economic and environmental priority,” said Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s vice president for environment and energy.  “While governments in Copenhagen provided a basis for further work, much remains to be done in 2010 to deliver the clarity, flexibility and enabling frameworks that business has long advocated.”

USCIB joins the International Chamber of Commerce, the world business body that coordinated industry representation in Copenhagen, in calling on governments to focus on economic and technological priorities when they return to the table in 2010.

“There is major work ahead in setting out detailed elements, in particular those aimed at making the monitoring, reporting and verification processes operational,” according to ICC Secretary General Jean Rozwadowski.

For USCIB, critical elements in a post-2012 global framework on climate change involve investment, technology, trade and intellectual property rights.

“International trade is a proven path to economic growth and technological advancement,” according to USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson.  “As countries trade more, they grow richer and have additional resources to devote to environmental protection.  Both industrialized and developing countries have a clear stake in coordinated action to open markets, stimulate private investment and tackle global warming.”

Mr. Robinson and Ms. Kennedy joined USCIB members in attending the Copenhagen conference.  USCIB organized a side event, titled “Trade, Investment and Climate Change – Synergies for Economic Growth and Environmental Progress,” to underscore the American business community’s strong commitment to positive and mutually reinforcing outcomes in global climate and trade negotiations.

Technological innovation and deployment are indispensable to climate mitigation and adaptation.  Throughout the two-week conference, U.S. business contributed ideas and solutions to address the climate challenge, including at events like Copenhagen Business Day and the Bright Green Exhibition.

“U.S. companies have already taken substantial action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” stated Ms. Kennedy.  “With post-2012 clarity, predictability and flexibility through a global framework agreement, more can be accomplished.”

According to ICC’s Mr. Rozwadowski, there is a greater need than ever for business to work with governments to help rapidly advance decisions made in Copenhagen, in order to establish the terms and procedures that will give business the predictability it requires to plan, innovate and invest.

“We hope to see the creation of more innovative ways for the UNFCCC to benefit from business expertise and actions as governments resume their crucial work in 2010,” he said.

USCIB promotes international engagement and prudent regulation in support of open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility.  Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, and with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.

Contact:

Jonathan Huneke, VP Communications, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

ICC website

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

Open Trade Is Essential for Successful Action on Climate

Published on December 16, 2009
Trade can help make a greener world.
Trade can help make a greener world.

Copenhagen and New York, December 16, 2009 – What do the UN climate talks and the stalled Doha Round of trade negotiations have in common, apart from seemingly mind-numbing complexity?  Answer: Success in both will be essential for global sustainable development.  So says the head of an industry group representing top U.S. multinationals.

“International trade is a proven path to economic growth and technological advancement,” according to Peter M. Robinson, president and CEO of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB).  “As countries trade more, they grow richer and have additional resources to devote to environmental protection.  Both industrialized and developing countries have a clear stake in coordinated action to open markets and tackle global warming.”

So do companies, which is one reason USCIB members and other business representatives gathered yesterday with UN negotiators for a key side event in Copenhagen. The invitation-only event, titled “Trade, Investment and Climate Change – Synergies for Economic Growth and Environmental Progress,” sought to underscore the American business community’s strong commitment to positive and mutually reinforcing outcomes in global climate and trade negotiations.

“We want to highlight the positive relationship of open trade and investment with technology and financing for climate solutions,” said Mr. Robinson.  “Reaching a comprehensive WTO agreement that lowers trade barriers would boost investment and innovation in climate-friendly technologies.  On the other hand, if trade and climate are set against each another, the result would be to fuel protectionism and complicate the already difficult task of forging a global consensus on climate.”

Even now, said Mr. Robinson, too many countries are leaning toward using trade as a “hammer” to force countries to follow a specific path on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.  “This temptation must be resisted,” he stated.”  “We need more carrots, and fewer sticks.”

Freeing up trade in environmental goods and services would give a boost to curbing global warming.  A 2007 World Bank study found that removing tariffs and non-tariff barriers in 18 of the high-emitting developing countries for four basic clean energy technologies (wind, solar, clean coal and efficient lighting) could lower the costs of these technologies by 13 percent, which could help reduce emissions significantly.

“What’s more, it is clear that these reductions could be further augmented through better management practices and technical know-how, both of which tend to follow in trade’s wake,” according to Mr. Robinson, who is attending the climate conference under the banner of USCIB’s global affiliate, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which is coordinating business and industry representation in Copenhagen.

USCIB promotes international engagement and prudent regulation in support of open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility.  Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, and with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.  More information is available at www.uscib.org.

Contact:

Jonathan Huneke, VP Communications, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

ICC website (includes related news from Copenhagen summit)

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

More on USCIB’s Trade and Investment Committee

How Technology Can Be Marshaled to Tackle Climate Change

Published on December 14, 2009
The fruits of innovation must be fostered and safeguarded to unleash new climate technologies.
The fruits of innovation must be fostered and safeguarded to unleash new climate technologies.

Copenhagen and New York, N.Y., December 14, 2009 – Over the next 25 years, global population is expected to rise by 1.5 billion, to 8 billion, while economic output doubles.  In that same period, worldwide energy demand will increase by 50 percent.  How can technology keep pace and still meet ambitious goals for addressing climate change?

Unleashing innovation is key, according to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which will today hold a side event at the UN climate conference focused on the need to implement sound policies to spur a technological revolution to tackle global warming.  ICC representatives say getting the policy mix right will be crucial, while making the wrong choices would set back warming efforts significantly, making future drastic action all the more likely.

“Business is the primary source of climate-related innovation, but in many cases it can’t act alone,” according to Peter M. Robinson, president and CEO of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB), ICC’s American national committee, who is attending the Copenhagen conference under ICC’s banner.  “Companies often form alliances with governments, universities and research institutions in any number of areas.  These public-private partnerships can be crucial in leveraging resources and benefits, and this is clearly the case with climate-related technologies.”

ICC is coordinating business representation at the Copenhagen conference.  With hundreds of thousands of member companies in over 130 countries, the Paris-based body works closely with the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations on behalf of the business community.  A network of ICC national committees, including USCIB, represent the world business organization’s views to their governments.

According to Mr. Robinson, the most efficient way to commercialize government and academic research is to transfer or license patents to the private sector, thereby creating an incentive for companies to invest the necessary funds to bring technologies to market.

“Governments should increase funding for basic research into in environmental and energy technologies, and they must also maintain policies that encourage innovation and the dissemination of new solutions,” he said.

Protecting intellectual property rights is critical, according to Norine Kennedy, USCIB’s vice president for environment and energy, who urged UN negotiators to avoid the temptation to water down intellectual property rights under the misconception that this may speed developing countries’ access to key climate technology.

“When governments look at potential mechanisms to encourage technology transfer, they need to avoid measures that would create additional burdens and legal uncertainty for the owners of intellectual property,” Ms. Kennedy stated.  “When coupled with increased government incentives and development assistance, existing international rules covering intellectual property rights should be sufficient to ensure that advanced technologies are deployed swiftly to address climate change.”

USCIB promotes international engagement and prudent regulation in support of open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility.  Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, and with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.

Contact:

Jonathan Huneke, VP Communications, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

ICC website (with links to recent statements)

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee

US Business Submits Detailed Recommendations on Climate Financing

Published on December 9, 2009

3952_image002Copenhagen and New York, N.Y., December 9, 2009 – With some $10 trillion needed to fund improvements in global energy infrastructure by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency, financial measures to spur action on global warming are among the most contentious topics at the UN climate talks.  Against this backdrop, a leading U.S. industry group has put forward recommendations to leverage public and private funds for climate adaptation and mitigation.

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents top American multinationals, this week submitted a paper on public and private finance for climate change to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.  In a cover letter, USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson said that available funding mechanisms for climate change “have been slow, narrow in scope and difficult to access.”

USCIB said the role of public finance should be to leverage private-sector investment in developing nations.  “In many cases, the most effective use of public finance will be to leverage and enable action by the private sector,” stated Ann Condon, director of environmental health and safety with General Electric and chair of USCIB’s Environment Committee.  “It should also seek to lower some of the risks associated with business activities and investments, particularly in developing countries or in connection with new technologies.”

USCIB’s global affiliate, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), is coordinating business and industry representation at the Copenhagen climate conference.  ICC is putting forward its own recommendations to UN negotiators on improving the global financial framework to more effectively tackle climate change.  These will be explored at a side event in Copenhagen today.  Mr. Robinson and a number of executives from USCIB member companies are attending the climate conference under the ICC umbrella.

“The private sector responds to specific signals,” noted Mr. Robinson.  “The goal should be to mobilize financial and technological resources in developed nations for deployment in the developing world, primarily through private investment.  This means that both home and host countries must implement the appropriate policies and incentives to spur innovation and investment.”

Mr. Robinson said the recent global economic crisis highlighted the need for cooperative international action to develop appropriate policy and financial incentives.  “We need to apply those lessons to the climate challenge,” he stated.

USCIB promotes international engagement and prudent regulation in support of open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility.  Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of the economy, and with operations in every region of the world.  With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.  More information is available at www.uscib.org.

Contact:

Jonathan Huneke, VP Communications, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org

USCIB statement on effective public and private finance for international cooperative action on climate change

More on USCIB’s Environment Committee