100+ Major Companies Pledge Support For Paris Agreement
IKEA, Mars, Philips, Salesforce, Unilever, Adidas, HP, Starbucks and many others say they will do their bit to make the Paris Agreement a success.
The 110 companies are also calling on world leaders to provide “clarity” to boost the “confidence of investors worldwide.” The businesses released their joint statement yesterday (20 April), just two days before a ceremonial signing of the Paris Agreement takes place at the UN headquarters in New York.
The companies promise: “We pledge to do our part, in our own operations and beyond, to realise its vision of a global economy that limits global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius.”
Mindy Lubber, president of the Boston-based advocacy group Ceres – one of the organisers behind the statement – said: “We have no time to waste in pointing our economy, our entire economy, down a low-carbon path. The message we are delivering today is clear: the business community stands firmly behind a plan that will help us get there.”
Today we join @Unilever @Huffington Post and 100s of other companies in support of the Paris climate agreement @TheBTeamHQ
— Peter Schwartz (@peterschwartz2) April 20, 2016
Innovative Solutions
Companies that signed the statement
The businesses say the economy should be energy efficient and powered by low carbon energy. “We believe there are cost-effective and innovative solutions that can help us achieve these objectives,” they say.
Steve Howard, chief sustainability officer at IKEA, said: “The Paris agreement represents a turning point for business. It is the beginning of the long-term framework needed for business to transform their operations and invest in low carbon products and services for the future.”
“Now it is time to translate this framework into clear policies and actions,” he added.
Action Now Would Create Jobs
The statement was organised by a number of environmental groups including many from the US, and carries a special message for American politicians: “Failure to build a low carbon economy could put America’s prosperity at risk. But the right action now would create jobs and boost competitiveness.”
Proud to be part @Unilever Wish more would.Consumers do care and vote increasingly with wallet.Check list.@enactus https://t.co/n6bxuuYaqO
— Paul Polman (@PaulPolman) April 20, 2016
Levi Strauss was one of the companies to emphasise their call on US politicians in a separate press statement. Anna Walker, senior director of global policy and advocacy at the clothing brand, said: “We pledge to do our part to address climate change and encourage US lawmakers to do the same.”
The statement was coordinated by the Business For Low-Carbon USA initiative, which includes the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, CDP, Ceres, C2ES, Environmental Defense Fund,Environmental Entrepreneurs, The B Team, The Climate Group, We Mean Business and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
Yesterday, the Daily Planet already reported how investor groups worth $24 trillion are calling on world leaders to fast-track the Paris Agreement so it can take effect well before it’s original kick-off date in 2020.
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