3 May 2012: EU CLG meeting with President Barroso, Commissioners Potočnik and Hedegaard on redoubling green growth efforts
A delegation from the Prince of Wales' EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change (EU CLG) and invited guests from the EU CLG-led Atlas Schools Project and the Cambridge Natural Capital Leaders Platform met with a large delegation of top EU officials led by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Commissioners for the Environment Janez Potočnik and for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard.
The discussion was based on four key themes: how to maintain European leadership internationally; the low carbon policy and market fundamentals; innovation, jobs and growth; and resource efficiency and integrated approaches. The business leaders spent one and a half hours discussing with the President, Commissioners, Director General and staff the need for recalibration of the ETS, how best to move from austerity to prosperity through innovation, necessary resource efficiency actions, and the need for greater public–private partnership in the creation of a competitive Europe.
The EU CLG will follow up a series of key deliverables requested by the EU delegation. The meeting was followed by a lunch with Commissioner Potočnik around Rio+20 and the initiatives undertaken by the Cambridge Natural Capital Leaders Platform in preparation for Rio+20 such as the Leadership Compact: Committing to Natural Capital.
Read the press release.
View a video of President Barroso's introductory remarks, and comments from CPSL's Director Polly Courtice.
15 December 2011: Letter to EU decision makers
On 15 of December, some members of The Prince of Wales’s EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change and their industry colleagues sent a letter to EU decision makers including President Barroso and EU Commissioners, Ministers and MEPs. The document calls for an urgent recalibration of the ETS, and a withholding of allowances, in order to bring stability to carbon markets, spur innovation and drive investment.
The business leaders point out that the economic crisis has significantly impacted the effectiveness of the EU ETS, as demonstrated by today’s limited levels of trading and low carbon price, and ask European policymakers to adopt near- and mid-term measures both to take into consideration future economic instability and to ensure that new policy proposals do not negatively impact the trading scheme.
Read the letter.
Read the press release.
8 November 2011: dinner debate in the European Parliament on the European Commission’s Roadmap for moving to a low carbon economy in 2050 and Chris Davies’ draft report
The event was co-hosted by the EU CLG, and brought together key speakers such as Chris Davies, MEP; Morten Bæk, Deputy State Secretary for Climate & Energy from the Danish Government, Jos Delbeke, Director General, DG CLIMA, European Commission and ten Members of the European Parliament.
Together with business leaders from The Prince of Wales's Business & Sustainability Programme (BSP), the EU CLG and the Cambridge Sustainability Network (CSN) on how to bring forward key feedback to the European Commission and Chris Davies, MEP (Rapporteur on the Roadmap for moving to a low carbon economy in 2050). MEPs debated with the Commission and business leaders the feasibility of implementing a progressive, clear, long-term EU policy framework that includes mid-term GHG emissions reduction milestones and sectoral targets under current economic pressures.
EU CLG members present: CEMEX, Johnson & Johnson, Barilla, Kingfisher , Philips, Vodafone, Alstom, Unilever
CSN members present: European Investment Bank, European Aluminium Association, 3M, JP Morgan
24 October 2011: Hungarian and UK Governments join forces to break down low carbon finance barriers, in partnership with the EU CLG
Read the DECC press release.
The EU CLG demonstrates leadership through open letters, facilitating international summits and meetings with key policy stakeholders. Through these messages and events the EU CLG encourages ambitious and robust climate change policy and that the adoption of a strong and effective climate package will ultimately be good for European business.
Business Urges EU27 Ministers and 736 MEPs to Support Low Carbon Roadmap and Ambitious GHG Target
June 2011
Some of the European Union’s largest companies sent a letter today to EU27 Environment Ministers and Prime Ministers calling for a community wide 25% domestic GHG emissions reduction by 2020 - putting Europe on track to meeting 30% overall targets internationally. The letter was sent in preparation for the 21 June Environment Council where Ministers will debate the European Commission’s Low Carbon Roadmap to 2050. A similar letter will be sent to 736 Members of the European Parliament prior to next week’s plenary vote on moving towards 30% GHG reduction targets.
Download the press release.
Download a sample letter.
Business Welcomes Commission's Low Carbon Roadmap and Calls for Stronger Energy Efficiency Commitment
March 2011
A number of the largest companies in the European Union sent a letter on 8 March 2011 to President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU Commissioners welcoming the EC Communications on A Low Carbon Roadmap to 2050 and the Energy Efficiency 2011 Plan, but arguing that the Energy Efficiency Plan falls short of delivering the policy measures necessary to meet the 20% efficiency target for 2020.
Download the letter.
Download the press release.
EU CLG and President Buzek Host the Low Carbon Prosperity Summit
February 2011
The Prince of Wales addresses the Summit alongside the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy
The EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, companies from The Cancun Communiqué network and investment community met with the three Presidents of the European Institutions on 9 February 2011 and argued that low carbon growth is the most effective driver of economic recovery and the best foundation for future prosperity in Europe. The Summit was attended by over 300 MEPs, economists Lord Nicholas Stern and Dr Ottmar Edenhofer, the EUCLG, P8 and IIGCC members. The Prince of Wales addressed the Summit alongside the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy.
The purpose of the meetings was to strengthen the dialogue between EU policy makers, business leaders and investors on how best to support the development of a low carbon economy and take advantage of the tremendous economic and social opportunities offered by green growth.
CLG ‘Deal or No Deal’ international event at St James’s Palace
July 2010
On 14 July 2010, the CLG was delighted to bring together over 200 senior and influential business leaders, policymakers and civil society representatives at the impactful, ‘Deal or No Deal?’ event at St James’s Palace. The day included an inspirational call to action from The Prince of Wales, as well as galvanising and significant contributions from EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard, Lord Nicholas Stern (author of The Stern Review on Climate Change) and Richard Kinley, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC.
The need for, and route to, an international agreement was debated at high-level roundtable discussions, with the CLG and others drawn from the from The Copenhagen Communiqué network, playing a key role in ensuring stimulating and fruitful interactions. The main aim of the event was to reinvigorate the movement for an international deal within the international business community and the feedback on the day suggests a great success. The CLG will be working to build on this momentum to support essential agreements in Cancun and onwards, to South Africa in 2011.
Major European companies come out in support of higher climate change targets
June 2010
A grouping of 27 CLG and Copenhagen Communiqué signatories supported the British, French and German Ministers letter to the FT calling for a 30% target by 2020. The signatories of the letter indicated that shifting to 30% would be vital to support the carbon market and that low prices have "seriously undermined domestic investment in low-carbon technologies". "It is critical that we exit this recession in a way that lays the foundation for low-carbon growth."
Download the letter
Download the press release
EU CLG meeting with Commissioner Hedegaard
April 2010
In April 2010 the EU CLG Leaders officially presented the draft EUCLG Company Compendium: Low Carbon Projects, which brings together some of the low carbon experience from the groups members. This Compendium was an answer to the Commissioner’s call for low carbon examples in preparation for her staff’s work on a Commission Communication and a further meeting in May. The meeting also set to explore how business can work in partnership with the Commission in advancing a low carbon economy. The Commissioner stated in the meeting the need for a progressive business voice and was open to key policy advice from the members (identifying markets and regulatory barriers).
EU CLG urge European Leaders that "EU Submission to Copenhagen Accord Should Show Leadership and Ambition"
2010
In January 2010, the EU CLG wrote to José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament and José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spanish Presidency, calling on them to “show leadership by submitting an ambitious EU greenhouse gas reduction plan by the 31 January deadline”. The companies welcomed the fact that at Copenhagen many of the world’s major economies have, for the first time, made commitments to limit temperature rise to 2◦C, but stated that this “has not created the low carbon momentum nor investment security needed.”
EU CLG lunch meeting and press conference with President Barroso
2009
On 27th November, an EU CLG and Copenhagen Communiqué signatory delegation met with President Barroso and Commissioners Piebalgs and Dimas for a lunch meeting. The lunch was extremely successful in bringing forward the EU CLG as a strategic ally for Barroso going into the COP-15 negotiations and post-Copenhagen under a Barroso II Commission. The President was very appreciative of the messages from the EU CLG and was pleased to hear the leaders call for a strong deal in Copenhagen as well as present their personal efforts towards the creation of a low-carbon economy.
EU CLG Press Conference with Climate and Energy Rapporteurs from the European Parliament
2008
As the autumn of 2008 progressed, so did opposition to the EU Climate and Energy Package from mainstream business groups and some Member States. In an attempt to demonstrate credible business support for the package, the EU CLG hastily arranged a press conference in the European Parliament in Strasbourg during November, at which company representative were joined by the relevant Rapporteurs.