ICC wants stringent climate change prog.

The Secretary General of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Ghana, Mr. Emmanuel Doni-Kwame, has called on government to pursue a stringent climate programme that works with business to scale-up innovation and investment in climate solutions.

He proposed that governments must put a tax on carbon dioxide emissions or sell companies permits-to-pollute, which would be a prudent approach to fighting global warming.

Mr. Doni-Kwame, speaking in an interview with B&FT on climate change which has taken global centre stage, observed that China’s plans to launch the world’s biggest carbon trading scheme in 2017 present business opportunities for entrepreneurs, especially young entrepreneurs and emission innovators; adding that Ghanaian entrepreneurs cannot be left out and have to take up the challenge.

“There is a strong business case for reducing the impacts of climate change and it is private sector stakeholders that drive this process in the strong belief that a transition to a low-carbon economy spurs economic growth and creates new job opportunities,” he said.

The United Nation’s (UN) new 2030 development agenda places a significant emphasis on the role of the private sector in delivering a brighter, safer and more prosperous future for all. Meeting the climate challenge will require widespread business engagement and action -- both to reduce emissions and build resilience to changing weather patterns.

Speaking on the eve of the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) COP21 talks, ICC Secretary General John Danilovich said: “The scale of the climate challenge is too great for governments to tackle alone. Climate change is everyone's business and COP21 must deliver an agreement that works with the private sector to scale-up innovation and investment in climate solutions”.

Mr. Danilovich said: "It is vital that COP21 marks the start of a new era of collaboration between policymakers and business to meet the climate challenge. That's why we are calling for a recognised consultative role for the private sector under a future climate accord. Better utilising business know-how would be a significant step forward in the way we go about addressing the shared challenge of climate change".

Kersten-Karl Barth, Chair of the ICC Commission on Environment and Energy and Executive Vice President of Bilfinger’s Power Division said: “There is a strong business case for reducing the impacts of climate change, and it is private sector stakeholders that drive this process in the strong belief that a transition to a low-carbon economy spurs economic growth and creates new job opportunities”.

There is strong hope that COP21 could become a turning point in the global effort against climate change. A transformation of global financial and energy systems is needed to make a low-carbon and climate-resilient global economy the new “business as usual”-- and to support implementation of the national pledges already proposed by more than 150 countries.

Mr. Barth added: “According to the International Energy Agency, full implementation of the 150 national pledges were made before COP21 which would require cumulative investment of US$13.5trillion in low-carbon technologies and energy efficiency until 2030.”