11 April 2013 webinar: Carbon pricing – a part of our future?

On 11 April, CPSL and the Corporate Leaders Network (CLN) hosted a webinar on carbon pricing, an overview discussion exploring what it is, its pro-business rationale, global trends in this area, its shortcomings and how to make it work. There were two sessions to cater for different time zones, with 30–40 signing into each, which is an excellent result. Countries represented were: Brazil, South Africa, Russia, China, Canada, US, Chile, Peru, Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Australia, Ireland, Hong Kong, Belgium, Norway, and Spain.

We were privileged to have such an eminent group of speakers contribute to the discussions:

• Chris Hope, Reader in Policy Modelling, University of Cambridge, IPCC Lead Author
• David Hone, Senior Climate Change Advisor for Royal Dutch Shell and Chairman of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)
• Douglas Crawford-Brown, Director of the Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR)
• Jeff Swartz, International Policy Director, International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and Advisor to the Chairman at China Carbon Forum
• Jill Duggan, Policy Director, Doosan Power Systems. Previously played a prominent role in the UK government on the development of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. She is also a member of the Department of Energy's State Energy Efficiency steering committee

The sessions were moderated by Nicolette Bartlett, who facilitates the Corporate Leaders Network at CPSL.

We have a rich recording (so in real time, fully interactive) available until mid-May 2013:

Session 1 link 

Session 2 link

The CLN hopes to build on this experience to run similar sessions in future, utilising the forum to bring companies together globally to delve into an issue in more depth. 

20 December: Report back from Doha

This year’s UN Climate Change meeting in Doha, Qatar, was graced from the start with extremely low expectations. In the end, the minimum was done to 'keep the show on the road' with countries agreeing to extend the Kyoto Protocol commitment period and settling on a process for negotiating a new deal by 2015. There are some positive ‘take-aways’ for business including the continuation of the rules and institutions of the Kyoto Protocol, and progress on rules around transparency.

However, the overall political signal from Doha was very bad: the pace of negotiations was slow, trust between power blocs lacking, ambition low and positions entrenched. For a deal to be done in 2015 that delivers what is need to prevent dangerous climate change, there will have to be a significant shift in ambition and a change in the political dynamic to achieve greater consensus. Actions at the national level to reduce emissions will also be key for setting an agenda of progress.

Read The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change's report on Doha.

Business leaders must take on challenge at Doha – The Guardian

 
In The Guardian (23/11/12) Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, explains why Unilever is an, “enthusiastic signatory to The Carbon Price Communiqué, which urges policymakers to introduce a clear carbon price framework in a stable and timely way”. One of the two areas Unilever are keen to see progress is carbon markets. “Effective carbon pricing can mobilise finance at a scale that can impact the climate challenge, and better align the scale, reach and innovation of business with the needs of the planet and its growing population.”

Read Paul Polman's piece in The Guardian.

The world needs a deal on carbon pricing – The Independent

 
A letter from representatives of The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, World Business Council for Sustainable Development and Royal Dutch Shell in support of The Carbon Price Communiqué took the lead spot in the letters page of the Independent on 4 December 2012. The letter states that, “a key policy that could help drive fast and cost-effective emissions reductions, and that has the support of business, is carbon pricing”. 

Read the letter in The Independent.

6 December, 11:30 GMT: Interview with Connie Hedegaard supporting The Carbon Price Communiqué

29 November, 09:00 GMT: Events at which The Carbon Price Communiqué will be profiled at COP18

The Carbon Price Communiqué will be officially distributed to all Parties at the UNFCCC COP18 negotiations in Doha and will be mentioned and visible at IETA and WBCSD events.

Please download a list of events here.

23 November, 14:00 GMT: Report of the launch of The Carbon Price Communiqué in Brussels with Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard

On Monday, 19 November, The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change (CLG) held the first public launch event of The Carbon Price Communiqué. The launch and reception were hosted at the Brussels offices of the EU CLG. The Carbon Price Communiqué was presented to Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard; 20 distinguished ambassadors and embassy representatives; business leaders, NGOs and European press.

Guests came to join a prestigious line up of roundtable participants including EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, Ambassador of Korea to the EU, H.E. Chang-beom Kim, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Australia, Mr Craig Maclachlan, Chair of the International Emissions Trading Association, Shell, David Hone and EU CLG Chair (former Chair Alstom Power), Philippe Joubert.