Businesses pledge to act on climate change and biodiversity
June 29, 2020Iceland today joined more than 180 businesses at a unique event bringing together leaders from Government, the corporate sector and NGOs in the run up to the COP26 climate change conference, which will be hosted by the UK in November 2021.
The virtual event was organised by DEFRA’s Council for Sustainable Business, made up of 15 business leaders including Iceland Managing Director Richard Walker. The audience included leaders representing 50 percent of the FTSE 100, employing five million people between them, with a joint market cap of over £1.3 trillion. They were asked to make bold commitments to drive a ‘decade of difference’ for climate change and nature.
Richard Walker said “It was inspiring to hear from the Prince of Wales, three Secretaries of State and some of the UK’s most powerful corporate voices but it was the response from businesses that was really motivating. Nearly half of those businesses have already started to make promises on carbon reduction and biodiversity. Over 40 have committed to carbon neutrality by 2040 or before, and over 20 have committed to biodiversity net gain. Their response shows encouraging evidence of accelerated action by corporates in the run up to COP26 in Glasgow next year.”
The Council for Sustainable Business is dedicated to tackling three key environmental challenges: carbon and climate change; biodiversity; and plastic pollution. It advises DEFRA ministers and policy teams on the role that businesses can play in achieving the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan. For more information on the work of the CSB visit https://councilforsustainablebusiness.com.
