Business Could Deliver Two-Thirds of Emissions Cuts for 2°C Goal

The President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Peter Bakker, has launched a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers showing that the ambitions set out in WBCSD’s Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative could deliver 65% of all the carbon emission reductions needed to meet the UN target of keeping global warming to under 2°C. However, for this target to be met, the right policy framework needs to be created by governments around the world. To meet this ambition, the Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative (LCTPi) could channel at least $5-$10 trillion investment into low carbon sectors and create at least 20m-45m jobs around the world as a result over the next 15 years.

PcW chart showing mitigation potential of Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative

Peter Bakker called on governments meeting in Paris for the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (30 November to 11 December) to agree an ambitious global climate deal that will provide the framework for business to deliver on their LCTPi ambitions.

Welcoming the report, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres said:

“I would like to commend the World Business Council for Sustainable Development for their extraordinary leadership in bringing so many progressive companies together to deliver ever high levels of climate ambition now and over the years to come.

“The analysis presented today–just weeks before the UN climate conference in Paris–underlines potential levels of emission reductions that are truly game-changing in terms of the support they provide to governments and international aspirations to keep a global temperature rise this century below 2 degrees Celsius.

“The number of companies but also cities moving towards a low carbon world is of level, range and scope that is unprecedented. Paris offers an opportunity for more companies to come on board in order to accelerate a transition that has now become inevitable and irreversible.”

In recent months the WBCSD has showcased LCTPi across the world, working with over 140 companies to lead the change and ensure that emissions targets set in Paris at COP21 become a reality.

Fonte: UNFCCC