Scottish business leaders join first ever UK wide summit on climate change

By SBC : 01 May 2008

Scottish businesses meet today (1st May 2008) to join with 1600 other companies from across the UK to discuss the threat of climate change, and to pledge to take action to reduce their carbon footprint. They will hear from HRH The Prince of Wales and The Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It’s the first time the Prince and the PM have shared a platform on climate change. 

The Summit will reconvene the May Day Network, the largest group of businesses and organisations (800 +) in the UK committed to taking collective action to tackle climate change.  It is managed in Scotland by Scottish Business in the Community (SBC), a charity committed to the promotion of responsible business practice. The May Day Network offers businesses a framework to tackle their climate change impacts through a series of pledges and aims to engage 10,000 businesses across the UK by 2012.

The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Minister, Stewart Stevenson, who will address the Scottish summit, said:  “Climate change is having a major impact on the world we live in. This is not only a challenge for Government but a challenge for us all and business has an important role to play in this work. The need to adapt to the consequences of climate change and drive down emissions can create new opportunities for Scottish businesses with new markets for lower carbon energy products likely to be worth $500 billion dollars by 2050.”

“Our proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill will set a framework within which Scottish industries can invest with certainty in world-beating, low-carbon technologies.  The proposal for a statutory target to reduce Scottish emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 signals Scotland’s serious intent to lead the global effort to combat climate change. I’m confident that Government, business and all of the people of Scotland are ready to rise to the challenge of climate change and that together we can build the right world for future generations to enjoy.” 

Climate change, like the ‘May Day’ distress signal, requires urgent action and Scottish businesses are listening. Senior business leaders have offered their support for the Network, including Susan Rice of Lloyds TSB Scotland, who commented: “Sustainable growth is not just an issue for today but for tomorrow and the future.  This is why I am delighted to support the May Day Network and help spread the message that action on climate change is critical.  As the only Bank whose market is primarily Scotland, its right that Lloyds TSB Scotland takes a leading role in the approach to climate change here at home.  It behoves us to set an example not by just what we do, but by encouraging informed debate and sharing example.  Our reach across Scotland is considerable.  We look to our staff to take specific initiatives and we look outward to our customers and beyond as we help inform and influence the debate.”  

The Summit will inspire even more business leaders to take steps towards a low carbon economy, by asking them to make pledges that involve action within their own companies and by engaging their employees, suppliers and customers. All companies present will be challenged:

·         To measure their direct carbon footprint if they haven’t already done so.

·         To reduce their carbon output as this is the single most important action they can take. 

Companies attending the May Day Summit will be offered ongoing support by Scottish Business in the Community and partner organisations. Information on progress against pledges, as well as case studies, sources of advice and other information will be available via the website www.sbcscot.com/mayday. 

For more information on HRH The Prince of Wales’s May Day Business Summit on Climate Change, and to register to take part online visit www.sbcscot.com/mayday. The Summit is sponsored in Scotland by Alliance Boots, DLA Piper, Lloyds TSB Scotland, ScottishPower and The Scottish Government.

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Categories: Press Coverage, Economic Development, Environment

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