Roundtables

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) includes climate change as a strategic priority and greatly values the unique work of both the UK and EU CLG. The FCO has been keen to invite CLG companies to join roundtables with business leaders around the world. The CLG has travelled to Japan, Brazil, Germany, Poland and Hungary at the invitation of the British Embassies in those countries.

Climate Leadership Roundtable in Spain

March 2011

 

The Prince of Wales and CEOs of Spanish and international companies at the roundtable

Together with the British Embassy and Fundación Entorno-BCSD Spain, EU CLG co-organised a roundtable lunch with The Prince of Wales in Madrid on 31 March. The lunch took place at the Fundación Rafael del Pino, with 23 companies represented. The aim of the roundtable was to bring together CEOs of a small number of Spanish and international companies to discuss the key challenges of the low carbon economy. Discussion focused on considering the opportunities for green growth and low carbon development in Spain and the EU more broadly, as well as the role for European business in driving debate forward and informing the policy process. The group also explored the policies and market mechanisms needed to design our economies around carbon-free electricity in order to meet the 80–95% by 2050 GHG reduction targets. Finally the representatives assessed how closer collaboration between the UK and Spain in this area can help to move the global debate forward.

Climate Leadership Roundtable in Poland

March 2010

EU CLG together with the British Embassy in Warsaw, The Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan, and The Polish Business Roundtable Club organised a business roundtable on ‘Opportunities for Low Carbon Growth in Poland’. The event was organised to coincide with The Prince of Wales’s state visit to Warsaw and saw the participation of over 20 business leaders and a number of government representatives in fruitful, constructive discussion concerning next steps for transitioning Poland from a high carbon to low carbon economy. Participants demonstrated a willingness to move the agenda forward while acknowledging the risks and difficulties, as well as opportunities inherent in the challenge. Key issues emerging from the discussion included a recognition that there are a lot of potential opportunities for Poland to pursue green growth, through energy efficiency measures across its ageing energy infrastructure, the built environment, and housing, as well as through pursuit of alternative energy development.

Climate Leadership Roundtable in Hungary

March 2010

EU CLG together with the British Embassy in Budapest, the Academy of Sciences and The Regional Environment Centre (REC) organised a business roundtable on ‘Opportunities for Low Carbon Growth in Hungary’. The event was organised to coincide with The Prince of Wales’s state visit to Budapest and saw the participation of over 25 business leaders in fruitful, constructive discussion concerning next steps for transitioning Hungary from a high carbon to low carbon economy. A number of key issues were raised, including a focus on opportunities as well as barriers for action on climate change.

Climate Leadership Roundtable in India

November 2009

Keen to use the momentum building within the business community in India around climate change, the UK Deputy High-Commission in India hoped to seed the formation of a group similar to the CLG but appropriate to the Indian context. Following on from the successes of the Climate Leadership roundtables with CLG in Japan and Brazil, the Deputy High Commission in Mumbai worked to arrange a series of meetings between business leaders from the UK / EU and India.

Senior CLG representatives met with senior representatives from Indian companies in Mumbai with focused discussions about climate change and business, public policy and the post-Copenhagen agenda. The meeting went very well, with the Indian business leaders expressing keen interest in the work of the CLG and the barriers that the EU has faced and is facing in its transition to a low carbon economy.

Climate Leadership Roundtable in Germany

November 2009

In November 2009, the EU CLG, together with Copenhagen Communiqué signatory representatives, met German business leaders for a Green Business Roundtable focused on ‘Recommendations for Immediate Action from Business and Government’ with a keynote presentation from Dr Ottmar Edenhofer from The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The roundtable event was hosted by the British Embassy in Germany and overlapped with the University’s award ceremony for Sir Nicholas Stern and the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – a theme that tied in nicely with the objective of the event, which was to try to begin discussions on how to break down the barriers for action and policy implementation for a low carbon economy. EU CLG Members were invited by the British Ambassador to a closed lunch with Lord Stern, the Potsdam Institute, German dignitaries, and key members of the business community to discuss his work and the work of the Potsdam Institute on climate economics.

Climate Leadership Roundtable in Italy

April 2009

In April 2009, EU and UK CLG representatives, as well as regional representatives, travelled to Rome in order to attend a closed roundtable with Italian business leaders arranged by the British Embassy in Rome and Enel, which at this time was the only Italian EU CLG member. It was held in the headquarters of Confindustria (the main Italian industry body) and coincided with a visit by The Prince of Wales, who attended part of the meeting. Feedback received after the event suggests that it was an incredibly useful meeting for the business leaders involved and it generated a significant amount of positive coverage in the Italian media. Barilla and Telecom Italia joined the EU CLG as a result.

Climate Leadership Roundtable in Brazil

March 2009

 

Roundtable with Brazilian business leaders in Rio de Janeiro, establishing a Brazilian CLG-equivalent

In March 2009, EU and UK CLG representatives, as well as regional representatives, travelled to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in order to attend a closed roundtable with Brazilian business leaders. The aim of the event was empower the Brazilian businesses to form a Brazilian CLG-equivalent, as well as to discuss a plan of action leading up to the international negotiations in Copenhagen. The visit, which coincided with a visit by The Prince of Wales and who joined part of the discussions, was arranged by the British Embassy in Brazil. An equivalent grouping to the CLG has now been established in Brazil and will become part of the CLG’s international network.

Climate Leadership Roundtable in Japan

October 2008

In October 2008, CLG representatives met Japanese business leaders at a series of public events and private meetings in Tokyo. The broad intention of the trip was to engage with Japanese business to encourage the development of a proactive business coalition in the country to focus on the climate change policy agenda. The trip coincided with a trip to Japan by The Prince of Wales and he joined a private round table meeting with Japanese business leaders and the CLG on 28 October. As a result of the roundtable, a Climate Leadership Group has now been established in Japan and it is keen to work with the CLG on the international agenda.