Leading Canadian Companies Urge World Governments to Act on Climate Change

Copenhagen Communique Presented at UN Today

TORONTO & VANCOUVER, British Columbia, September 22, 2009--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A global business call to action on climate change—including over 60 leading Canadian companies and organizations—will be presented to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a negotiation session of the UN General Assembly in New York today. Canadian corporate leaders are calling for world governments to complete an ambitious, robust and equitable deal on climate change at the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen this December.

The Copenhagen Communiqué, a global campaign by prominent business leaders, urges world governments to adopt a global emissions cap and long-term reduction pathway for all greenhouse gas emissions and sources, and requires developed countries to lead on immediate and deep emission reduction commitments. The Copenhagen Communiqué is an initiative of The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders’ Group on Climate Change which is run by The University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership. Canadian partners and signatories Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR), WWF-Canada, LoyaltyOne (AIR MILES® Reward Program), and Mountain Equipment Co-op have encouraged Canadian companies to lend their voice to the call.

Canadian signatories represented on the Communiqué include Indigo Books & Music Inc., Research In Motion, Royal Bank of Canada, Bombardier Inc., Domtar, The Co-operators Group Ltd., Alterna Savings, Fairmont Hotel and Resorts Inc., Scotiabank, BMO Financial Group and BC Hydro. The campaign has reached its goal of securing 500 high profile global corporate signatories.

“Climate change is of course not just an environmental issue; it will have profound effects on societies and businesses the world over,” said MEC CEO David Labistour. “How and to what extent can only be mitigated by a comprehensive and progressive climate policy, and MEC supports the Copenhagen Communiquéas one step along this path.”

Today’s UN meeting of over 100 world leaders is in preparation for the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December, 2009.

Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR) is a network of Canadian companies focused on environmental, social and economic solutions that lead to better business and a better world. Founded in 1995, CBSR is a globally recognized source for corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Canada. To learn more visit www.cbsr.ca.

WWF-Canada is part of WWF, the global conservation organization. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. WWF-Canada’s top priorities are fighting climate change, the single biggest environmental threat to our planet; and conserving our oceans and freshwater resources. For more information, visit www.wwf.ca.

LoyaltyOneTM works with more than 100 of North America’s leading brands in the retail, financial services, grocery, petroleum retail, travel, and hospitality industries to profitably change customer behavior. Through a team of businesses including Canada’s AIR MILES® Reward Program, COLLOQUY®, Precima, LoyaltyOne Consulting and Direct Antidote, LoyaltyOne designs, delivers, and manages a suite of loyalty marketing services. LoyaltyOne is also a corporate environmental leader and behavioral influencer by leveraging the broad reach of its AIR MILES® Reward Program and offering additional incentives to consumers for more sustainable lifestyle choices. LoyaltyOne is owned by Alliance Data. More information is available at www.loyalty.com.

Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) is Canada’s leading retailer of outdoor clothing, gear and service for self-propelled activities. Established in 1971, MEC has more than 3 million members throughout Canada and around the world. Widely recognized for its commitment to sustainability – economic, social, environmental – MEC is a member of One Percent for The Planet, an alliance of some 500 companies in 20 countries that annually allocate one per cent of their total revenues towards various community-based environmental initiatives. Additional information about MEC is available online at: www.mec.ca.

Links

Global advisory and press release – September 22, 2009:
http://www.cbsr.ca/cbsrftp/MEH/Advisory_and_press_release.pdf

Current signatories list
http://www.cbsr.ca/cbsrftp/MEH/CurrentCopenhagenCommuniqueSignatories.pdf

Text of the Copenhagen Communiqué
http://www.cpsl.cam.ac.uk/pdf/Copenhagen%20Communique%20-%20English.pdf

Official United Nations Climate Change Conference site – COP15
http://en.cop15.dk/

Canadian Signatories
  

Contacts

To learn more about the Copenhagen Communiqué:
WWF-Canada
Josh Laughren, Director, Communications
Office: 416-484-7708
Cell: 647-400-9578
jlaughren@wwfcanada.org
wwf.ca
or
Canadian Business for Social Responsibility
Robyn Hall, Communications Manager
Office: 416-703-7435 x232
Cell: 416-559-3951
robyn@cbsr.ca
www.cbsr.ca
or
Mountain Equipment Co-op
Tim Southam, Public Affairs Manager
Office: 604-707-4480
Cell: 604-561-4528
tsoutham@mec.ca
www.mec.ca
or
LoyaltyOne/AIR MILES
Jill McBride or Will Sikes
Office: 513-231-5115
Cell: 513-646-5188
jill@jzmcbride.com or will@jzmcbride.com