The UK Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change (UK CLG)

Convened in 2004

Aim: To bring together business leaders (UK & international) to advocate the development of new and longer term policies for tackling climate change

13 companies initially

First output was letter to PM Tony Blair in May 2005, immediately in advance of G8 Gleneagles Summit

Key messages of 2005 letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair:

• Need to take “urgent and informed action now if we are to avoid worst impacts of climate change”

• Enabling a low-carbon future should be “a strategic business objective for the UK”

• Group offered to work “in partnership” with Government to make progress on climate change

• Need strong policy framework to create business certainty that climate change will be addressed

Membership of CLG (October 2009):

Role of Corporate Leaders Group:

• The Corporate Leaders Group has allowed business to engage in a proactive and positive dialogue with government.

• This is good for business in that it allows it to establish the future conditions needed for action.

• This is good for government in that it allows it to seek input from a key stakeholder yet maintain their environmental goals.

“ We are committed to a pathway that will slow, stop and reverse the growth of U.S. emissions while expanding the U.S. economy.”

The Bali Communiqué (Nov 2007)

“The scientific evidence is now overwhelming”.

“As business leaders, it is our belief that the benefits of strong, early action on climate change outweigh the costs of not acting”