As a significant way forward for tackling climate change, a group of companies and organizations from around the world has endorsed a clear post-Kyoto framework for affecting change at the levels of policy and industry, particularly in regard to creating sustainable energy systems necessary for achieving economic growth.
Signatories of "The Path to Climate Sustainability: A Joint Statement by the Global Roundtable on Climate Change" hail from a range of sectors and industries from across the globe. The institutions have been convened by Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs who is also a special advisor to the UN General Secretary.
Allianz supports framework to fight climate change
Proactive framework for global action
The statement - signed by companies including Allianz, Bayer, Citigroup, General Electric, Volvo, and many others - calls on governments to set scientifically informed targets for greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The agreement also urges governments to place a price on carbon emissions and to set forth policies aimed at addressing energy efficiency and de-carbonization in all sectors.
Calling climate change "an urgent problem," the statement lays out a proactive framework for global action to mitigate risks and impacts while also meeting the global need for energy, economic growth and sustainable development. It outlines cost-effective technologies that exist today and others that could be developed and deployed to improve energy efficiency and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases in major sectors of the global economy.
Global framework urgently needed
"Leaders from key economic sectors and regions of the world have reached a consensus on the path forward to reduce human-made climate change," said Jeffrey D. Sachs, Chair of the Global Roundtable on Climate Change and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. "This initiative points the way to an urgently needed global framework for action. I congratulate the Roundtable signatories, and thank them for their bold leadership and contribution to global progress on this critical issue."
The Climate Change Statement released today has received endorsements from critical stakeholders and independent experts including an array of civil, religious, environmental, research and educational institutions; and a distinguished list of world-leading experts from the fields of climate science, engineering, economics and policy studies.
Clem Booth: "The insurance industry provides an early warning"
Insurers play key role in understanding new risks
"The insurance industry has always played a key role in helping business and society understand new risks. We provide an early warning, if you will," said Clement Booth, executive board member of Allianz SE.
"Allianz believes it is already seeing signs that climate change is a serious emerging risk, and we expect it to remain a top-tier issue for the insurance industry for many decades to come. I believe it is our responsibility to address and tackle this risk, making homes and businesses safer and more secure for our clients."
Foster a global consensus
The ability of so many key stakeholders with such diverse views to agree upon the Joint Statement demonstrates the possibility of fostering a global consensus on a positive, proactive approach to meeting the challenge of global climate change.
Since 2004, the Global Roundtable on Climate Change, an initiative of The Earth Institute at Columbia University, has convened more than 100 high-level stakeholders and experts twice a year to explore areas of potential consensus regarding issues critical to shaping public policies on climate change. The Joint Statement is an outcome of these dialogues, and was built on careful discussion over the past three years.
As with all content published on this site, these statements are subject to our Forward Looking Statement disclaimer.
Link to the disclaimer