July 20th, 2011 – London, Washington, Brussels, Johannesburg – On December 3rd and 4th, a global coalition of leading businesses, financiers and governments representing in excess of 8,000 companies, 1,300 sub-national governments, and $71tr in assets under management, will assemble in Durban, South Africa, to pioneer, develop and finance profitable green business opportunities during the annual UNFCCC COP 17.
The second annual World Climate Summit (WCS) will provide a platform for business-focused climate change solutions. WCS will ensure boardroom support for projects necessary to drive the green economy forward, while also mitigate climate change and promote climate adaptation. The two-day summit supports an active community of global leaders and dealmakers as they develop new business models, broker public-private partnerships, scale projects, transfer technologies, and establish replicable financing mechanisms.
“Business and finance are key in delivering tangible results in Durban.” UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres said, “I am happy that the World Climate Summit is bringing the private sector in parallel to the COP to implement solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation at scale. This will showcase the possibilities of working together with the public sector locally, nationally and globally.”
Backed by CNN International and TIME magazine, the climate arena’s leading businesses, and institutional partners, as well as the most relevant decision-makers and leaders, the World Climate Summit enjoys support from Siemens, Alstom, PwC, Nedbank, Philips Lighting, HP, Brasil Foods, European Investment Bank, Zero Emissions Platform, Avon, and expects more companies to join soon.
Partnering organizations include: UN Global Compact, UNEP FI, UN PRI, the UN Foundation, the International Finance Corporation, The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, Regions for Climate Action (R20), ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, the Global Green Growth Forum, the Carbon War Room, the Carbon Disclosure Project, the European Climate Foundation, IGCC, IIGCC, INCR/Ceres, International Union of Railways and the Business Council on Sustainable Energy, with additional leading climate bodies set to come on board in the near future.
The Summit’s core goal, green business generation, will be achieved through a variety of strategic matchmaking sessions (ranging from one on one meetings to exclusive roundtables), key note plenaries addressing the major global green business issues, interactive and structured workshops, and orchestrated networking and exhibiting.
The program will address the broad issues of: finance and scale; public-private partnerships; tech transfer; renewable energy; legislation and policy; cities and regions; transportation; carbon pricing; climate adaptation; NAMAs; energy efficiency; and business leadership globally, Africa and South Africa.
In addition, WCS will host the Carbon War Room’s Second Annual Gigaton Awards. Dubbed the ‘Oscars of the low-carbon industry’ the Gigaton Awards bring prestige and recognition to companies whose leadership in emissions reduction and sustainable practices generate positive change and profits. A number of leading energy and climate media titles, such as the Clean Energy Pipeline, Green Futures and Revolve are also supporting the Summit.
QUOTES
“As world leaders seek to come closer to a global agreement on climate change, the private sector and the world’s capital markets cannot afford to sit and wait for its outcome. The World Climate Summit is about discussing sensible private sector solutions: win-win approaches which are deployable and make perfect commercial sense regardless of developments in the policy arena. UNEP Finance Initiative, the UN Global Compact and the Principles for Responsible Investment bring the combined expertise of the United Nations and its member institutions from the private sector to this relevant debate.”
Paul Clements-Hunt, Head of Unit, UNEP FI
“Alstom has engaged in extensive dialog and consultation with governments and industry leaders, focussing on how business can work together with governments to bring forward the investment and technology development required to meet the climate change challenge within the COP process.”
Philippe Joubert, Vice CEO, Alstom
“Closer engagement between the private sector and political officials is vital to understanding the needs of each and delivering the investment in clean energy needed for a sustainable climate. The World Climate Summit attracts an impressive array of corporate leaders to this critical dialogue.”
Reid Detchon, Vice President for Energy and Climate, United Nations Foundation
“BRF believes the 2nd World Climate Summit to be one of the most important forums for mobilizing world leaders in the search for solutions and the adoption of positions on the theme.”
Wilson Mello, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, BRF BrasilFoods
For more information about the World Climate Summit, including potential sponsorship and partnership opportunities, please visit http://www.wclimate.com/ or contact:
LONDON +44 75 2723 6161 Michael Mathres michael@wclimate.com
BRUSSELS +32 475 96 47 72 Patrick van Leeuwen patrick@wclimate.com
WASHINGTON +1 202 492 9520 Aimee Christensen aimee@wclimate.com
COPENHAGEN +45 69 669 111 Jens Nielsen jens@wclimate.com
JOHANNESBURG +27 11 566 6000 Pat Dambe pat@wclimate.com
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