EU Commission got the business Copenhagen scorecard

Comment |  Many are pinning hopes on the Copenhagen climate change summit, COP15, in December but just as many are wondering what an agreement actually will imply. Business is one of the important stakeholders and is to a huge degree part of the solution and also determined to do its part in tackling the great challenge.

“Between economic and climate crisis – can Copenhagen show a way out?” was a conference organised recently to get a feel for different climate change policy stakeholders. Over 450 people came to listen and put questions to representatives from business and politics. Several panels poked and probed at the issues at high tempo. The conference was organised by BusinessEurope, representing 40 European business federations from 34 countries.

In the conference segment on energy efficiency, Sweden’s minister for enterprise and energy, Ms. Maud Olofsson, maintained that working towards an “Eco-Efficient Economy” is the way forward. A case discussion followed on how, specifically, the housing sector can contribute to reducing emissions. MEP Mr. Claude Turmes, of the Greens, submitted that more mandatory rules and regulations were needed. But Minister Olofsson cautioned that careful judgement must be used in determining just what is to be regulated.

Business representatives from several of the major economies were present at the conference. Everybody emphasized a desire to see the Copenhagen meeting produce a good result, although exactly what that implies can obviously be discussed. But BusinessEurope was clear that long term predictability is achievable only if all major economies committed to equally strong emission reduction targets — especially the EU’s big competitors, for example the US and China.

For a finale of the conference, Mr. Philippe de Buck, Director General of BusinessEurope, presented the organisations “Copenhagen scorecard”, where the business interests in an ambitious climate agreement can be checked off. First and foremost, the scorecard were addressed to the newly re-elected President of the EU Commission, Mr. José Manuel Barroso, who also used the forum to announce that a climate commissioner is about to be appointed.

Mr. de Buck addressed specifically the competitiveness of European business, in the light of an international agreement. So far, the EU has alone set legally binding and ambitious reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions. Now, a source of great worry for business is that the EU, in international negotiations, is promising even higher binding targets if the other developed countries matches them. The 20 percent reduction target now on the table would become 30 percent, compared to 1990. Mr. de Buck urged the Commission President to take this shift from 20 to 30 percent under heavy scrutiny after Copenhagen. Without an agreement that imply a level-playing field for European industry that compete on the global market, there is a significant risk for carbon leakage within the EU.

Down the line, this implies less production in Europe, fewer jobs and ultimately, increased global emissions.

Demonstrators outside the conference in the Charlemagne Building in Brussels were chanting: “Our climate is not your business!” This is a fundamental misapprehension. Swedish and European business is to a huge degree part of the solution and determined to do its part in tackling the great challenge.

Mårten Bergman