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Corporate Leaders Groups

Business leadership for a climate neutral economy
 

For immediate release: Thursday 18 December 2014

Ministers right to call for EU climate action, say Europe's business leaders       

The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group (CLG) has welcomed a statement released today (Thursday, 18 December 2014) by the Green Growth Group of environment Ministers from 15 Member States, urging EU institutions to work together to strengthen the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and develop legislation to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030.

The group of European businesses, which includes Kingfisher, Shell and BT, said that clear policy frameworks at both EU and national level were vital for companies wanting to invest in a low-carbon economy. 

Philippe Joubert, Chair of The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group said:

"We welcome the call from Ministers for early action to strengthen the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and introduce legislation to reach Europe's greenhouse gas emissions commitment of at least a 40% cut domestically. For further business and investor confidence, we need a Commission Work Programme promoting an integrated industrial, energy, climate and internal market policy framework."

UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey, a member of the Green Growth Group, said: 

“Coming back from the successful climate change talks in Lima, I’m more determined than ever that we must get an ambitious global climate deal in Paris next year. The Green Growth Group which I set up is today giving a clear steer that the Commission, Council and Parliament need to work together to strengthen the EU Emissions Trading Scheme so that it can make decarbonisation in Europe more attractive, and to push ahead with legislation to implement our target of cutting Greenhouse Gas emissions by at least 40% domestically.” 

/Ends

1. The statement released today by the Green Growth Group of Ministers includes:

  • support for the 2030 Climate and Energy Framework, endorsed by the European Council in October 2014;
  • a call for urgent reform of the EU ETS and the adoption of an ambitious Market Stability Reserve;
  • a call on the European Commission to start implementing new and existing legislation that delivers on 2020 and 2030 goals;
  • support for the Commission's Work Programme and a call for it to integrate Europe's climate, energy and green growth objectives. 

2. For a copy of the statement, please contact Marie Reynolds, press and media consultant at Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership: +44 (0)7849 785635, marie.reynolds@cisl.cam.ac.uk.

3. The Green Growth Group was formed in October 2013 and includes like-minded energy, climate and environment Ministers from across Member States. The Group is working together with a view to exploring, promoting and pursuing a cost-effective and growth-enhancing ambitious EU low carbon agenda. For more information see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/going-for-green-growth-the-case-for-ambitious-and-immediate-eu-low-carbon-action