What Happened at COP21: 10 Things Your Business Can Do
In December, world leaders agreed to tackle climate change - what should your business do next?
At a top level the signal is clear. The world is taking climate change seriously and every business needs to be part of the solution.
In December 195 countries were present at the Conference of the Parties in Paris. Every one signed an agreement to take action to tackle climate change. For the first time, all countries pledged to cut their carbon emissions and keep global mean temperature rise 2 degrees below pre-industrialised levels. Beyond this they agreed an ambition to keep temperature change below 1.5 degrees with a long term goal for zero carbon emissions by the end of the century.
Current pledges alone are not enough to meet this 2 degree target, and the agreement includes a process to review and revise targets every five years, ramping up ambition over time. So going forward we can expect to see a push for stronger and more rapid action to tackle climate change.
Even without all the detail needed to turn intention into reality, the agreements made in Paris are a clear signal that governments and leaders around the world are looking to drive and support a low carbon future. Coupled with this there was a strong call for businesses to play their part.
Five key themes from the Agreement are:
What does this mean for your business?
Detailed implementation will take time to agree, but the principles put in place are a strong message to business leaders and investors and provide a framework for your business to take action now.
There’s a growing role for businesses to become part of the climate change solution, with opportunities for new investment and growth as we transition to a low carbon economy and adapt to a warmer world. In light of the Paris Agreement, now is the time for all businesses to review their strategies and take action in order to remain relevant, competitive and profitable in the long term.
We’ve set out 10 things your business can do next, to build on the momentum of COP21:
For support to set your climate and sustainability strategy and deliver against your pledges, contact the ClimateCare Team.
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