Time to build back better from COVID-19

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“Ethical Markets is happy to post this inspiring news from our friend and partners!

~Hazel Henderson, Editor“

A green recovery is essential as we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.

– Carlos Sallé, Director of Energy Policies & Climate Change, Iberdrola

Welcome to the April edition of the We Mean Business coalition newsletter. I sincerely hope you remain well and are managing to stay positive during the ongoing pandemic.

This month has seen a growing number of businesses backing government efforts to ensure long-term economic stimulus considers the impacts on climate change.

The ‘European Alliance for Green Recovery‘ saw 37 CEOs of Europe’s biggest global companies join ministers from 11 countries, business associations and trade unions to call for a green recovery in Europe. These included European power companies Iberdrola, Enel and EDP; retailers H&M and Inter IKEA Group; three of the world’s largest consumer goods brands, Unilever, AB InBev and Nestlé.

At the launch of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Germany, a group of 68 companies from a wide range of sectors called for governments to ensure compliance with the Paris Agreement during the stimulus response to the coronavirus. The signatories included global cement producer HeidelbergCement, logistics giant Deutsche Post DHL Group and power utility Vattenfall.

And a group of nine companies committed to The Climate Group’s EV100 initiative have called on the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, to push ahead with 2020 CO2 targets for cars, vans and trucks, despite lobbying attempts for a delay in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used his speech on Earth Day to urge governments to ensure their COVID-19 economic stimulus packages help to tackle climate change. The number of EU nations backing a green post-coronavirus recovery has increased to 17. And eight investment groups, including BNP Paribas Asset Management, have urged companies to maintain their focus on reducing emissions.

Companies are continuing to step up and make new commitments to bold climate action, while many others are reconfirming their existing commitments. New science-based target commitments include US retailers Nordstrom and Ralph Lauren, UK sugar producer Tate & Lyle and Chinese semiconductor giant Jiangsu Pacific Quartz. The Climate Group’s RE100 has welcomed four new members committed to 100% renewable electricity – US personal products company Coty, US financial services company Mastercard, US manufacturer General Mills and UK software company Refinitiv. While UK water utility Severn Trent joined EV100 and UK energy services company Mitie joined EP100.

This leadership from business, coupled with bold government ambition, will help economies #BuildBackBetter and accelerate the transition to the zero-carbon economy.

NEWS & BLOGS

From the We Mean Business blog

The businesses urging governments to build back better from COVID-19

A growing number of businesses are backing the EU’s move to ensure the long-term economic stimulus considers the impacts on climate change. This includes the 37 CEOs of Europe’s biggest global companies that joined the ‘European Alliance for Green Recovery’.

 

 

 

Zero-Carbon Transition: April signals of change 

Companies and governments are recognising the importance of building greater resilience at this critical time, protecting against the threat of climate change. Here are just some of the examples of bold climate action from April, demonstrating the zero-carbon transition underway.