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22 September 2009 Declaration: UN Leadership Forum on Climate Change
DECLARATION by Business, Investors and Civil Society to Governments Our world is at a critical juncture. Governments must take collective action now to address climate change. Failure
to do so will result in catastrophic damage to the planet, people and the global marketplace. Future advances in global integration,
wealth creation, poverty reduction and peace building will all critically depend on our ability to address this challenge.
We – leaders of business, the investment community and civil society – have come together at the UN Leadership Forum on Climate
Change to convey to Heads of State and Government our explicit support for the negotiation of a balanced and effective global
climate agreement. Our call for action is based on the following rationale: Climate change is the test of leadership in the 21st century. Reaching an effective climate agreement
will require a new level of leadership. The right decisions and actions will not come easily and resistance is strong. Leaders
in a position to make key decisions must be committed and unyielding in their support for a global agreement. Just as business
has had to manage a paradigm shift in the wake of the global economic crisis, Governments are called upon to put long-term
sustainability ahead of shortterm constituent politics. The future of the global marketplace hangs in the balance. A global agreement on climate and a sufficient
price for carbon will help ensure the continuation of a global marketplace based on openness and competition. Strong markets
are needed to diffuse climate solutions. On the other hand, failure to find agreement would result in trade tensions and competitive
distortions that not only threaten the foundations of our global economy, but also any future advances in sustainable economic
and social development. Effective climate action can trigger an era of sustainable prosperity. It is indisputable that the cost
of inaction will be far greater than the cost of addressing climate change now. Transition to lowcarbon production and consumption
presents a tremendous value creation opportunity. By retooling the global economy in this way, opportunities will arise in
new markets, products and industries. Only through regulatory certainty can an engine of green growth emerge which drives
innovation, spurs massive global investments and enhances efficiencies, allowing climate mitigation and adaptation approaches
to reach full scale. However, a lack of a global climate agreement and clear pricing on carbon will undermine existing investments
and projects and lead to higher costs for business. Transformation is possible and viable. Business has already made significant progress in identifying and
innovating solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation. Investors are steadily building climate change into their decision
making. The transition to a low carbon economy is well within reach. Now what is needed are the right incentives and regulatory
certainty. Climate action is integral to human security. Each of us has an obligation to prioritize climate change.
Climate change is not a stand-alone issue. It is intimately connected to a host of critical security issues linked to food,
water, health, poverty, migration, displacement, and energy, among others. We all – business leaders, investors, consumers
and citizens – must adapt our value system to these realities. Above all, world leaders from all nations are called upon to
set an example by enacting an ambitious climate change agreement that protects the future of the earth and all people. PARTICIPANTS OF THE UN LEADERSHIP * List of participants as of 20 September 2009 from: business and investment community, business associations, civil society,
foundations For more information: |
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