Join the EU business call for 30% emissions reduction by 2020

Increasing Europe's climate ambition will be good for the EU economy and jobs

Business welcomes the strong public endorsement given to the 30% greenhouse gas reduction target by Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and UK. Moving to a 30% emissions reduction target by 2020 is a win-win-win for Europe. As well as the numerous economic and social benefits of cutting greenhouse gas emissions, it will spur innovation and investment thus creating millions of new jobs in a low carbon economy. 

Businesses call for the EU to prepare to increase its greenhouse gas reduction target to 30% by 2020 to drive low carbon investment:

• Climate action will boost economic growth and create new jobs
• The EU needs the right policies to maintain its leadership and competitiveness in the global low carbon economy
• The EU must ensure energy security through greater low carbon energy investments
• The EU needs to invest now for tomorrow’s technology and infrastructure to avoid  high carbon ‘lock-in’ and the financial risk of needing to engineer a rapid shift away from such stranded assets
• The recession has made emissions cuts easier and cheaper but market incentives are required to spur action
• ‘Carbon leakage’ should be evaluated and concerns addressed based on real facts and data about competitiveness

The following businesses have explicitly supported this Joint Declaration so far: Acciona, Adolfo Dominguez, Allianz, Alpro, Arjowiggins graphic, Arkadin, ASDA, Atkins, Aviva, Aviva Investors, Barilla, Better Place, BNP Paribas, Boralex, BSH Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete, British Telecom, BSkyB, Capgemini, Carrefour, Centrica, Climate Change Capital, The Coca-Cola Company, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Coca-Cola Hellenic, Crédit Agricole, Danfoss, Danone, DHV Group, DONG Energy, Electrolux, Elopak, Eneco, Eurostar, F&C Asset Management, Ferrero, First Solar, Google, Groupe Bouygues, H&M, If P&C Insurance Company Ltd, IKEA, InterfaceFLOR, John Lewis Partnership, Johnson Controls Inc, Kingfisher, Lafuma, Mango, Marks and Spencer, National Grid, Nestlé, Nike, Nokia Siemens Networks, Novo Nordisk, Philips, PUMA, Rockwool, RSA, Scottish and Southern Energy, SKAI Group of Companies, Sony Europe, SPIE, Standard Life, Sveaskog, Swiss Re, Tesco, Thames Water, The Co-operative Group, Tryg, Unicredit, Unilever, United Biscuits, Velux, Vestas, VINCI Autoroutes, Vodafone, Willmott Dixon Re-Thinking Limited and WSP Group.

More information on the business case for a 30% reduction target can be found in the background paper.

To join, or for more information please contact:

Sandra Roling
sroling@theclimategroup.org