ACCIONA endorses the 2ºC Challenge Communique

ACCIONA has endorsed The 2°C Challenge Communiqué, led by the CLN (Corporate Leaders Network for Climate Action) and the EUCLG (EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change). These organizations, along with a group of 185 major corporations from 29 countries, call on governments to take strong action on climate change; failure to do so, states the Communiqué, "risks seriously undermining future global prosperity and inflicting significant social, economic and environmental costs on the world".

The Communiqué sets out to influence governments in the run-up to The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC-COP), scheduled for November 28th to December 9th in Durban (South Africa).

Without an international deal, warns the Statement, "business will have insufficient clarity or certainty of action to invest to its full potential", as the window to stabilize global warming to less than 2°C has almost closed and "with current progress we will cross the (…) boundary". However, the right action would ensure a stronger, more efficient and less vulnerable low carbon economy.

Governments are responsible for setting-up stronger and more stable international, national and local-level frameworks in order to successfully overcome the 2⁰C Challenge.  The signatories call on governments to adopt specific policies, such as:

• Carbon prices that encourage low-emission alternatives.
• Effective adaptation programs.
• Increased financing, investment and development for a low carbon economy.
• Aid to business and consumers to help bring down emissions by using energy efficiently.
• Regulatory measures.
• Action on forest conservation.

The Communiqué stems from the commitment undertaken by large corporations to encourage a decisive climate change strategy which, in recent years, has taken shape in previous Communiqués issued in Bali, Poznan, Copenhagen and Cancun.

Link to the Communiqué