Tycoons urging Blair to curb CO2
June 6, 2006
Thirteen business leaders are set to meet Prime Minister Tony Blair to urge tougher action on climate change.
The group, including Shell, Tesco and Vodafone executives, will urge more curbs on carbon dioxide emissions.
They believe this would encourage innovation that would give British business an edge with new technology.
Other business lobby groups have argued against stricter targets in the past, saying they would damage the competitiveness of Britain.
'Global progress'
The delegation, which will visit 10 Downing Street, warns that developing countries will never take climate change seriously unless countries like Britain show how it can be tackled.
The group, brought together by the Prince of Wales's Business and Environment Programme, says climate change is urgent and needs tougher regulations on low-energy homes and products.
Prince Charles said the business community was "critical" in tackling a challenge of the magnitude of climate change.
"The role these companies are offering to play is highly strategic - essentially helping to create a political space in which effective policies can be introduced and global progress can be achieved," he said.
The business leaders believe strict carbon reduction targets under the EU's Emissions Trading System will make British firms more energy efficient, and so more profitable.
The Prince of Wales group believe that if British firms take a global lead in clean technologies, their competitiveness will increase.
In contrast, the Confederation of British Industry has argued consistently that stricter targets would have the opposite effect, decreasing the UK's competitiveness.
Print this page