17th United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Durban
As government negotiations at the 17th United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Durban are into the final week, business leaders were urged by ministers and international organizations to take a much stronger responsibility in the struggle against climate change and emissions of CO2.

Business involvement is essential
At the World Climate Summit, the largest business conference in Durban co-sponsored by State of Green,
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, opened the conference and stressed the importance of business involvement in the challenges ahead: “Without business involvement, discussions here will not bear meaningful fruit.”

To the attending leaders from global companies, UNFCCC Secretary-General Christiana Figueres puts it this way:
“Governments are doing their things. They are moving – although too slow – but what are you doing? Frankly, do more!”

Caio Koch Weser, Vice Chairman of Deutsche Bank, foresaw that business increasingly will take initiatives earlier in transformation processes towards green economy. Earlier, business has been waiting for legislation before implementing new technologies, today, he expects business to bring new technologies, which politicians then will react to and legislate.

EU Commissioner on Climate Change, Connie Hedegaard, understood that business is not just involved because of philanthropy, but also because of business. But she also underlined that authorities can push development through frameworks:
“There are lots of good examples that you through frameworks can push industry to innovate. But you also need speed and scale to the processes,” she said – and wanted action faster and of further size. “That is absolutely essential,” she stressed.

Rachel Kyte, Director of the Environment and Social Development Department at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) saw positive signs in the international processes ahead:
“Bringing business into the negotiation rooms will be decisive. I think that steps forward must include the private sector.”

Tine Roed, director of Confederation of Danish Industry, willingly took up the challenge on behalf of the business sector:
“Business is part of the solution, not part of the problem. We will go back and tell the good story from Durban and find the right business cases.

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