Climate Change: Business only Part of the Solution

5 October 2005

Tackling Climate Change has to be a duty for all sections of society and not just the business community, the Institute of Directors (IoD) said today. Following a major Business-Government conference in London to discuss Climate Change, the IoD argued that environmental policies have to be applied to the transport infrastructure and adopted by individuals. Action from business alone will not be enough.

Miles Templeman, Director General of the IoD, said:

"Business already plays a major role in many aspects of environmental policy. This is not only in engaging with market-based mechanisms such as carbon trading. It is delivering innovative products and processes that should have a positive effect on environmental performance. These range from fuel-saving and more energy efficient goods to new ways of dealing with waste and recycling."

Reducing carbon emissions will require bold policies such as extensive road pricing and the possible expansion of nuclear power.  Business has been cleaning up its act for a number of years and it is now up to the Government to take the lead the IoD said.

The recent publication of a business guide to Climate Change by the IoD was an attempt to highlight the expanding realm of environmental regulations to directors. The IoD said it was also surveying its members on environmental issues in advance of a major seminar early 2006.

Miles Templeman, said:

"It is very easy to criticise business for not doing enough to tackle global warming. However, it should be remembered that business is heavily involved in providing technologies used to monitor the state of our planet's environment. These include satellite remote sensing, data-logging devices and information and communications technology that help inform the scientific understanding of Climate Change.