Businesses call for EU to cut 30% emissions by 2020
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Jason Anderson, Head of European Climate Change and Energy Policy, WWF said: "Greater ambition on climate policy will help drive systemic improvements in efficiency and capital investment that will benefit both society and forward thinking businesses like these. Far from being a threat to the economy, European action on climate could be the spark of a new wave of innovation."
Support for the Joint Business Declaration on Increasing EU Climate Ambition to 30 per cent:
Jose Manuel Entrecanales Domecq, Chairman, Acciona said: "We need 21st century energies to build the 21st century economy. From our company's standpoint, to review the 20 per cent GHG reduction target, even in the absence of a strong international agreement, makes economic sense because it will strengthen European leadership. Reaching a target beyond 20% will unlock innovation and financing potential, and will increase European industry's readiness for new growth and development opportunities as the markets for low-carbon, high-efficiency goods and services expand. Socially it will contribute to the European energy supply security, and will contribute with new direct and indirect jobs through Europe; lastly, environmentally, increasing the emission reduction target will help Europe to reach the 450ppm goal we need to keep global warming within the 2ºC limit by 2050."
Keith Clarke, chief executive of Atkins, the UK's largest engineering design consultancy said: "We are already seeing a race to develop more carbon-conscious techniques in sectors such as building design and energy creation and this knowledge is highly sought after. If Europe is to taking a leading role in this field we must move quickly and a stronger target for carbon reduction, universally applied, will give us that momentum."
Sam Laidlaw, Chief Executive of Centrica plc said: "I am pleased to support the Joint Business Declaration and the move to a 30 per cent EU Greenhouse Gas reduction target. Centrica is already taking positive steps to decarbonise our power generation and make our customer's homes more energy efficient. Our commitment is for secure, low carbon and affordable energy supplies and we look forward to the active involvement and support of Government, regulators and consumers in delivering this goal."
Jeroen Overgoor, Director Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Eneco said: "A level playing field between fossil and renewable energy is in Eneco's opinion an essential condition for a healthy EU investment climate for renewable energy. Therefore the costs of climate change, health hazards and environmental risks have to be included in the market price of fossil energy. The current low price of CO2 illustrates that the ambitions of the EU in this field should be advanced to accelerate the achievement of this necessary level playing field."
Alain Grisay, CEO of F&C Asset Management says: "Capital investment is vital to fund the transition to a low-carbon economy, and growing numbers of investors stand ready to play their part. But this capital will not flow at the scale and pace that is needed unless governments set clear, credible and stretching carbon emission targets. A 30 per cent GHG reduction target sends an unambiguous message that will mobilise capital and spur real growth in the low-carbon economy."
Ricardo Cordoba, President GE Energy, Western Europe and North Africa said: "Energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon technologies in power generation currently fall short of full deployment for a number of reasons, most of which can be addressed through effective policies and programmes. The European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is one such policy. However the ETS by itself and with its current target is insufficient to drive an energy transition and change the fuel mix in Europe by 2020".
Agostino Renna, VP & GM, South & Central Europe, Energy Solutions, Johnson Controls Inc. says: "There has never been a more compelling event than the phenomenon of climate change. With its formidable challenges will come unprecedented opportunities to drive innovation and economic growth in Europe. The time for action is now. Amplified, focused, ambitious and assertive policy and legislation aimed at stimulating demand for energy efficiency and low carbon technologies (especially in the buildings sector) in Europe, will bring clarity and certainty around the future of the new environmental economy and unlock investment and broad-based solutioning of this truly global problem."
Ian Cheshire, Group CEO Kingfisher plc said: "Kingfisher fully supports the move to a 30 per cent target, which would be a very positive step towards achieving a global deal at COP16 in Cancun this December. A 30 per cent target will be good for the EU economy and it's good for the future sustainability of business. The experience of Kingfisher's companies across Europe shows that there is a strong appetite among the public to reduce individual carbon impact. Governments must harness this by helping business to change consumer behaviour for the better and by providing the right incentives."
Hannah Jones, VP Sustainable Business and Innovation at Nike says: "Nike believes that progressive EU Climate Strategy will help forge the pathway to environmental progress, economic growth and will provide a healthy stimulus for innovation. We would like to see the EU being ambitious in its climate strategy because business needs certainty and a level playing field to help spur green jobs and unlock innovation essential to creating technology and infrastructure solutions for a sustainable future."
Serge Foucher, Executive Vice President, Sony Europe, said: "As partner to the WWF Climate Savers Program, Sony Europe fully supports the manifesto being delivered to the European institutions. To move beyond a 20% by 2020 target will demonstrate leadership and stimulate greater action and innovation in tackling the environmental challenge across Europe. We believe that this will in turn help develop long-term sustainable economic development and job creation. At Sony we recognise the need to be ambitious to inspire change and we are taking our own steps through our "Road to Zero" global environmental plan, which includes a long-term goal of achieving a zero environmental footprint by 2050. Among other mid- term goals Sony commits to reduce GHG emissions from operations by 30% by 2015 as compared with 2000, and to reduce products power consumption by 30% per unit by 2015 as compared with 2008 (financial years). We trust the Commission takes this opportunity to keep the region at the forefront of low carbon technology growth and we look forward to their response."
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