By: Helle Bank Jorgensen
Last week I was in NYC for #Climate2014 Week and Ban Ki-moon’s Climate Summit before heading to Montreal for the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI). It was a fantastic week with lots of progress, promises and positive action from governments, cities, businesses, investors and citizens on climate issues and responsible business practices.
Now it is Tuesday and it’s time for us to get working on keeping those promises. I am very optimistic and here’s why:
1. Top-Management and Board of Directors are being asked by investors to take an active role in ensuring the long-term viability of companies:
As a global facilitator to the UN Global Compact LEAD Board Programme, I was encouraged to hear leaders speaking about accountability and the role of the top-management and the Board of Directors. At the PRI conference it was clear that investors see a need for Boards to ensure the long-term viability of the company. Investors increasingly expect that the board will have knowledge of sustainability and climate change – and that they will actively use that knowledge to integrate sustainability into the strategy, operations and incentive systems of the company.
2. Over 100 World Leaders sent a strong message about the need to take action now:
I participated in the UN General Assembly listening to heads of government pledging their commitment to action in the morning; while I heard business leaders make even stronger commitments in the afternoon. I must admit that, for a time, I thought and feared that words would come much faster than action. However, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres – a fantastic leader that I know is working hard to bring us a climate-deal in Paris in 2015 – shared that all leading governments at the moment are tasked with putting their commitment on paper. I believe that an international community of governments, mayors, premieres, business leaders and concerned citizens will ensure that no one lags behind. The map below shows the countries’ announcements at the Climate Summit last Tuesday, September 23rd.
3. A clear message about putting a price on carbon:
In my Master’s thesis, written over 20 years ago, I suggested putting a price on externalities and including the cost of pollution in the price of goods and financial accounts. Today, a rapidly growing number of leaders from businesses, provincial governments and municipalities agree that we need to price carbon. Some investors, such as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (which made their fortune in oil), are divesting from fossil fuels. Other investors are talking more about investing in businesses that have a sustainable business model, with boards that are taking action on the issues that are critical for long-term viability.
4. The voice of many concerned citizens:
The Climate March that took place last Sunday started small, but it grew and grew. World leaders marched with actors, nurses, moms, dads and children. They marched together to show those who were absent that the voice of concerned citizens would be heard. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as well as speakers, like actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Georg Kell, former Irish President and UN special envoy for climate change Mary Robinson and President Obama etc. all gave great speeches, but the very best came from concerned mother and Marshallese poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner. You can watch her speech here: http://youtu.be/mc_IgE7TBSY
Below are links to several of the key speeches that took place during Climate Week and the Climate Summit.
Conclusion
To sum up my key takeaways from Climate Week, I heard leaders from business, government and civil society call on all of us to be responsible and accountable leaders and that we can, we will and we must commit to act and report on what we do. I also heard and saw that several leaders are putting action behind words – asking their business partners and advisors to stop lobbying against their sustainability commitments and instead start advertising the better choices.
Great words, now let’s get to work!
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
Leonardo DiCaprio:
President Barack Obama: