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Corporate Leaders Network for Climate Action

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The Corporate Leaders Network for Climate Action throughout the world. Click to enlarge the map and read more about the individual business leadership groups.

Building an international movement of business leadership groups for a low carbon economy

Over the past decade, many countries have seen the emergence of groups of business leaders working to create the political space for government action in support of low carbon societies. These groups have seen the need for coordination across the economy, both to ensure that potential risks are managed and to allow business to grasp the opportunities that this transition could hold.

In 2010, a network was formed among these groups, the Corporate Leaders Network for Climate Action (CLN). The secretariats of these groups have begun to work in partnership, believing there to be immense potential in supporting and cooperating with each other on this agenda. The network represents a powerful platform for ‘home-grown’, autonomous, national, cross-sector business groupings to collaborate and to advocate clear and strong policy measures to deliver a prosperous, low carbon economy, both within key countries and internationally.

This growing network currently represents established and emerging business groups in Brazil, Chile, Germany, EU, Hungary, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, SE Asia, South Africa, Turkey, the US and the UK.

The University of Cambridge is delighted to be hosting the secretariat for this network in its initial phase of development.

11 April 2013 webinar: Carbon pricing – a part of our future?

On 11 April, CPSL and the Corporate Leaders Network (CLN) hosted a webinar on carbon pricing, an overview discussion exploring what it is, its pro-business rationale, global trends in this area, its shortcomings and how to make it work. There were two sessions to cater for different time zones, with 30–40 signing into each, which is an excellent result. Countries represented were: Brazil, South Africa, Russia, China, Canada, US, Chile, Peru, Denmark, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Australia, Ireland, Hong Kong, Belgium, Norway, and Spain.

We were privileged to have such an eminent group of speakers contribute to the discussions:

• Chris Hope, Reader in Policy Modelling, University of Cambridge, IPCC Lead Author
• David Hone, Senior Climate Change Advisor for Royal Dutch Shell and Chairman of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)
• Douglas Crawford-Brown, Director of the Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR)
• Jeff Swartz, International Policy Director, International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and Advisor to the Chairman at China Carbon Forum
• Jill Duggan, Policy Director, Doosan Power Systems. Previously played a prominent role in the UK government on the development of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. She is also a member of the Department of Energy's State Energy Efficiency steering committee

The sessions were moderated by Nicolette Bartlett, who facilitates the Corporate Leaders Network at CPSL.

We have a rich recording (so in real time, fully interactive) available until mid-May 2013:

Session 1 link
Session 2 link

The CLN hopes to build on this experience to run similar sessions in future, utilising the forum to bring companies together globally to delve into an issue in more depth.

28 February 2012: Hong Kong SMEs cut energy use but stop short of investing in low-carbon products and servicesThe Hong Kong Climate Change Business Forum (CCBF), a member of the CPSL convened Corporate Leaders Network, launched the results of its latest Energy Efficiency and Climate Change survey on 28 February 2012. Concern has spiked since the first survey in 2010; with over 70% of the 300 organisations expecting climate impacts to affect their businesses in the next three years. The vast majority (nearly 75%) are taking action to reduce their exposure to climate change risk, primarily by cutting energy use in their supply chain and in their own operations. A strong majority (69%) anticipates growing demand for 'green' products and services in the coming three years yet only 12% report they are actively developing energy-efficient, low-carbon products and services. Present market demand remains low at just 14%, demonstrating a sizeable gap between the perceived opportunity and current action.

And when it comes to climate change adaptation the results from the second survey are similar to those from the first. SMEs say the Hong Kong region is not prepared for climate change and are seeking stronger leadership from the Government. New climate change policy initiatives in Hong Kong and China have captured SMEs’ attention, with almost half (48%) familiar with Hong Kong’s proposed Carbon Reduction target.[1] Of these, the majority (58%) believes it should be more ambitious: a sign that business is seeking more Government leadership in this area.

View the full survey results.

Download the Hong Kong Climate Change Business Forum press release.

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[1] The target, proposed in September 2010, is to reduce carbon intensity, measured as units of carbon to produce one unit of GDP, by 50% to 60% based on 2005 levels by 2020

Secretariats of the following groups collaborate within the network: