• Introduction
• Lord Browne's Keynote
• Heads of State Session
• Bringing About Change
• Worksessions
• Economy/Emissions
• Worksessions
• Infrastructure
• Worksessions
• Conclusions
• Al Gore (timesonline.co.uk)

Economic Activities Reducing Greenhouse Emissions plenary session

Neil Carson
Johnson Matthey Plc, UK

Manufacturing

Speaking on behalf of Johnson Matthey Plc, a FSTE 100 manufacturing company in the chemical industry, Carson explained his firm’s approach to sustainability. From a company-wide perspective, it had established a 10-year sustainability vision in 2007, which included four major goals: (1) achieve carbon neutrality, (2) double earnings per share, (3) achieve zero waste to landfill, (4) halve the key resources consumed per unit of output. These goals were based on two perspectives: first, business success and environmental sustainability should be linked, and second, change should be approached incrementally. Within its Environmental Technologies division, Johnson Matthey develops and promotes emissions control technologies, process technologies, and fuel cells with a particular emphasis on hydrogen. Moreover, the company is thinking long-term and planning now for the products it will provide in a low carbon future. In 2017, ten years from the launch of its sustainability plan, the company will celebrate its 200th birthday. With these sustainability foundations laid, the company is aiming to have a thriving business in a low carbon and hydrogen economy.

Prof. Gilberto Camara
National Institute for Space Research, Brazil

Ecosystems

Professor Camara addressed the role of comprehensive deforestation monitoring in Brazil, as an example of how transparency of information could lead to good governance – an approach recognised internationally as a strong one for monitoring and slowing deforestation. Put simply, data on the web had lead to protests on the ground. Drawing on his experiences in this area, Professor Camara considered these four myths about deforestation.

Myth 1: The impact of deforestation We did not have the necessary data to measure the contribution of deforestation to global emissions.

Myth 2: High cost of avoiding deforestation. Experience showed that the cost of avoiding deforestation was actually “peanuts” and, in fact, created benefits rather than incurring costs.

Myth 3: REDD is necessary and beneficial. Such a notion is “nonsense,” as numerous problems existed, including validity and leakages.

Myth 4: Developed countries are willing to transfer technology transfer. Experience suggests this is not the case.

In light of these myths, Prof Camara suggested four items for action moving forward: (1) Brazil's targets for deforestation, (2) fair markets for biofuels, (3) the positive role of markets, (4) a global forest information system. Most importantly, a satellites could monitor the world's forests, but the images must be available to everyone. Transparency was paramount.

James Cameron
Climate Change Capital, UK

Services

Mr Cameron spoke on the topic of what services can contribute to the climate issue. He homed in on the word “enterprise,” for the promise it implied about new ways of doing business. In the past, we had undervalued cooperation within our economic system, as many business models had drawn primarily on the urge to compete. Cameron noted the need to emphasise our capacity to cooperate in addition to maximising the opportunities implicit in competition. The two together held tremendous potential for reorganising our approach to business to combat climate change and enable firms to profit from doing so. James Cameron also argued for the need to make low carbon investments the rational choice for institutional investors. He used his own Carbon Disclosure Project as an example: it provided essential information to inform discussions and decision-making crucial to moving toward a low carbon economy. Moreover, he highlighted the need for strong narratives and success stories to effect this transformation. Ultimately, Cameron urged that we should not shy away from change: our definitions of success today will be different tomorrow; the stage of actors will similarly shift, as some lose and others win. Our prospects for a low carbon future lie, in part, in these news models of and approaches to enterprise.

Prof. Jacqueline McGlade
European Environment Agency, Denmark

Agriculture

First noting agriculture's contribution to the problem (13.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions) and the necessity that it be part of the solution, Professor McGlade addressed the role of agriculture in a low carbon economy. She looked specifically at the case of Europe, where climate change is already having an impact on productivity and where water is emerging as a key constraining issue. In addition, Prof McGlade cited recent reports suggesting that the ability to absorb carbon on land is declining. Drawing on the examples and data presented, Professor McGlade said we had no option but to manage land better. In other words, good governance of land was essential, as decisions would affect both emissions and our ability to produce food. McGlade argued that a move towards a low carbon economy, with agriculture playing its part, could mean embracing new, even revolutionary visions and strategies of agriculture, integrating them into urban areas and managing landscapes in a drastically different way. In so doing, we may be successful in privately creating an essential public good.