Business leaders back call for strong climate law.

Business leaders back call for strong climate law

Irish Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change launched yesterday.

 

A Group of 12 industry leaders presented a Communiqué on climate change to An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen T.D. in Farmleigh House yesterday. The Irish Corporate Leaders Group has developed a Communiqué on climate change policy which calls on the Government to implement science- based targets and a tough climate change law.

Welcoming this strong call from Business leaders Director of Friends of the Earth Oisin Coghlan said
"For too long the voices of business that were heard on climate change policy were those saying 'not this, not us or not now'. What's so good about the Irish Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change is that here is a group of business leaders saying 'yes this, yes us and yes now."

The corporate leaders made their presentation to Brian Cowen ahead of his travelling to New York today to attend a high level summit on Climate Change convened by UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon. Friends of the Earth welcomes An Taoiseach's attendance at this summit and call on him to remember the call from Irish business for decisive action.

"Friends of the Earth is delighted to see Irish businesses take a leadership position on climate change. The group's call for science-based targets and a strong climate change law is very timely. I hope this support for decisive action will enable Government to act with renewed urgency to put Ireland on a low-carbon path."
concluded Oisin Coghlan.

ENDS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes-
The Irish Corporate Leaders Group on climate change through its Communiqué has called on the Government to:
Acknowledge the seriousness of the challenge and the enormity of the opportunity
Adopt, advocate and support science as the primary driver of climate policy
Develop a long term policy framework to provide certainty to businesses
Position Ireland as a world leader in smart green enterprise
Prioritize education and research to build a low-carbon economy
Act now or pay later

 

The Irish Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change is an initiative of Business in the Community Ireland, Friends of the Earth and Vodafone. Currently the group has 12 members: Arup Consulting Engineers, Bewley's, Bord na Móna, BT, Diageo, Intel, KPMG, NTR, PwC, Siemens, Zurich and Vodafone.