Walk the Talk

As I delve deeper into uncovering how the world will tackle such a daunting task as climate security, I am inspired and reassured to see positive steps being taken by governments worldwide to impose regulation and independent businesses stepping up to the plate. As the Kyoto Protocol will expire in 2012, negotiations are underway to reach a new global climate change agreement through the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland on December 13th where 192 nations convened for the final preparatory negotiations for an international summit to be held in Copenhagen next December.

In preparing for a low carbon future, businesses must be aware of the targets that will hopefully soon be imposed. The U.K. envisages global emissions to peak by 2020, with reductions of at least 50% by 2050 compared with 1990 levels. For this to happen, all countries will need to mitigate their emissions; even developing countries must reduce their emissions as they develop.

"The longer we wait to make investments necessary to avert the risk of climate change, the more costly those investments will have to become." Richard Lambert, former director-general, Confederation of British Industry

Global participation on this scale, will create a massive rapidly growing carbon trading market that will drive investments towards low-carbon technology. International agencies could devote as much as $60 billion a year for technology, adaptation and mitigation. Additionally, markets for low-carbon energy products could be worth $500 billion annually by 2050, ushering in significant opportunities across a range of industries and services.

Clearly, there is money and companies will follow it. Those who get there first should benefit the most.

The U.K. is leading the charge forward and I came across this supplement titled the Business of Climate Security published in Canadian Business, which I suggest you read: www.climate-security.com