Over 200 companies have already joined the 2C˚ Challenge Communiqué, a global initiative calling on governments to take action to keep the global rise in temperatures below two degrees Celsius. The initiative was launched in cities across the world by members of the Corporate Leaders’ Network for Climate Action (CLN). 

Photo: a snapshot from www.2degreecommunique.com

Shell, Unilever, P&G, Johnson and Johnson, Ricoh, Ebay, Tesco, Adidas, Diageo, Philips, BP, Nestle, Vodafone and many other companies called yesterday for governments to agree “a robust, equitable and effective agreement” at the coming UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Durban, South Africa in December. Most of the signatories are based in Europe. Some of the companies such as Adidas have recently accepted the Greenpeace’s Detox challenge.

A group of investors that work through the U.N. Environment Program, called on governments to create short-, medium- and long-term greenhouse gas targets, and urged the creation of an international climate change regime to bind major emitters to GHG reduction goals.

According to the 2˚C Challenge Communiqué, time is running out to keep global warming under 2 degrees C and it’s up to companies and governments to drive the necessary emissions reductions. Governments are asked to make appropriate changes in a wide variety of branches, including taxes and trading systems, to create that price signal.

According to Business Green, the Communiqué warns that without urgent action climate change threatens to «undermine global prosperity and inflict significant social, economic and environmental costs on the world».

Another point of discussion is deforestation and emissions from international shipping and aviation, as well as establishing of a funding for innovation and low-carbon development. The Communiqué calls up government to help businesses and consumers to be more energy efficient, and expand the usage of efficiency standards and labeling.