Policymakers and business tackling climate change together
Bern, 18.03.2005 - Climate change mitigation is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity; climate protection is not only central to environmental policy but also a factor driving business innovations. These were among the conclusions of a joint SAEFL/World Economic Forum meeting held today at Cologny near Geneva. The event brought together around 60 participants from the spheres of politics, administration, academia and civil society to discuss topics including climate policy post-2012, after the end of the first Kyoto Protocol commitment period.
At the meeting, entitled «Climate Policy: the Responsibility of Political Circles and of Business», successful CO2 reduction efforts were highlighted, with presentations, for example, by the pharmaceutical company Novartis on climate-related projects carried out in India and by the cement maker Holcim on eco-driving courses organized for its staff. These and other examples were cited by delegates reporting on their companies’ experiences in voluntarily reducing CO2 emissions as a contribution to climate change mitigation. National Councillor Franziska Teuscher spoke on the subject of Switzerland’s current and future climate policy, and about the business community’s responsibility to protect the climate.
The implications of various approaches to reducing CO2 emissions were subsequently discussed at two workshops, one of which was attended by National Councillor Yves Christen. One of the workshops focused on the issues of responsibility and the regulatory framework up to 2012, while the other addressed the post-2012 era (i.e. after the end of the Kyoto Protocol commitment period). The participants considered questions such as: How can climate policy be further developed? What kind of regulatory framework is required in Switzerland? What are the implications of climate protection for companies’ competitiveness and innovative capacity?
Climate policy: an innovation policy
To conclude the meeting, a joint statement was adopted by SAEFL and the WEF, underlining the need for an active climate policy. One of the conclusions drawn is that climate policy is an ingredient of economic prosperity, reducing industry’s reliance on fossil fuels and at the same time representing an innovation policy. The development and promotion of climate-friendly activities enables companies to achieve savings in operating costs, creates new opportunities in the marketplace and boosts international competitiveness in the long term.
The statement also notes that SAEFL and the World Economic Forum intend to pursue and intensify their collaboration. Today’s event was the second meeting jointly organized by these two bodies since 2003. The main aim of this partnership is to promote dialogue and cooperation between the authorities and the business community.
Publisher
Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/en
