Page 121

Various climate proposals will function differently across international contexts, and it is important to make sure all of our work contributes to overarching climate goals in each of these places. If our efforts do not translate across individual nations, then we are unlikely to see changes at the global level.A price on carbon is a cost-effective way to incentivize globally low-carbon innovation, shift investment towards low-carbon technologies, and help ensure sustained economic competitiveness. The business community believes that global, robust and stable carbon pricing will be fundamental for the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement. COP events should bring everyone to the table to see what is working, what is not and to share suggestions for embedding climate policy across different national contexts. 4. We need to ensure that all COP meetings are action-orientedWhile negotiations will most likely remain a cornerstone of these global events, we cannot overlook the opportunity to make them places for facilitation of concrete, action-oriented solutions. Because of the Paris Agreement, we now have solid emissions reductions contributions from countries from every corner of the globe. These are an excellent starting point, but it’s now up to the implementation partners, like business, to show the world how we can be even more ambitious. Already in the last few years, there have been tremendous technological advancements around low carbon technologies, and policymakers really need to understand how these technologies affect their NDC potential – COP meetings are an excellent place to facilitate that understanding.Successful COP meetings of the future will create safe spaces for all actors to share suggestions and new technologies needed for moving forward to meet the Paris Agreement. TRANSITIONING TO A POST-PARIS WORLD: COP22While global leaders work to understand the building blocks for global climate events post-Paris, we can encourage bolder climate action at COP 22 in Marrakech. COP22 is an important milestone. It is an opportunity to take stock of how far we have come in the past 11 months. It also provides a platform for future discussions around carbon pricing, and it offers opportunities to connect with African businesses, all of whom have an important role to play. Further, the Low Emissions Solutions Conference (LESC) this year at COP22, is an excellent example of the cross-pollination that should be encouraged at all COPs from here on out. LESC will connect businesses with policymakers and government officials to ensure that each actor is fully aware of new possibilities for advancement in the fight against climate change. We hope the outcomes of this conference will be used to boost NDCs, and to inform the makeup of future global climate actions.WIDENING THE SCOPEWBCSD is committed to finding the opportunities for implementing low-carbon solutions across every nation, community and industry sector of the world. COP22, as well as every other COP from here on out, should focus on making global tools for addressing climate change available and relevant for everyone – the implementation partners stand ready and willing to help. Together, we are willing to do whatever we can to ensure that climate action becomes the norm – for business, government, and everyone involved. ■ABOUT THE AUTHORPeter Bakker is the President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Mr Bakker is a distinguished business leader who, until June 2011, was the CEO of TNT NV, the Netherlands-based holding company of TNT Express and Royal TNT Post. Under his leadership TNT rose to the forefront of Corporate Responsibility via a ground-breaking partnership with the UN World Food Programme and ambitious CO2 reduction targets from its Planet Me initiative, holding multiple-year top-ranking positions in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Mr Bakker is the recipient of Clinton Global Citizen Award (2009); SAM Sustainability Leadership Award (2010); and has been an Ambassador Against Hunger for the UN World Food Programme since 2011. In addition he is the Chairman of War Child Netherlands.Above: Peter BakkerSUMMATION 121