World Business Council releases policy recommendations for climate negotiators at the start of COP23 in Bonn

Published: 6 Nov 2017
Type: News

Business recommends that COP23 climate negotiators consider:  

  • How to ensure a structured policy dialogue between governments and other stakeholders through the Marrakech Partnership
  • How to formally introduce and incorporate input from non-state actors in the Facilitative Dialogue
  • Building partnerships for resilience across global supply chains and in vulnerable communities experiencing climate impacts
  • Supporting carbon markets and enabling cross-border collaboration on mitigation efforts

6 November 2017 Bonn, Germany: Today at the start of COP23, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) released key policy recommendations for this year’s round of climate negotiations ahead of next year’s global stock take on progress made towards the Paris Agreement.

Strong business leadership will continue to accelerate implementation of climate action, but collaboration between business and government is a necessary enabler for scaling climate action across the world.

“Business is an essential implementation partner in reducing emissions and therefore needs to be fully involved in shaping the next round of national climate action plans,” said Peter Bakker, President and CEO at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Having analyzed the politics, policies and priorities around this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP), WBCSD and its members are focusing this year’s business advocacy efforts on:

  1. The Marrakech Partnership: Business is calling for a more structured approach to dialogues with policymakers. The Marrakech Partnership for global climate action provides a platform for showcasing successful approaches to reducing greenhouse gases and enhancing climate resilience. The Partnership will need to focus more on policy dialogue between governments and other stakeholders to enable deployment of climate solutions at scale.
  2. The Facilitative Dialogue: Business is pushing for clear mechanisms to provide input into the Facilitative Dialogue for taking stock of collective progress towards the Paris Agreement and increasing ambition in the next round of NDCs. A draft design of what the facilitative dialogue will look like and how stakeholders can be involved will be presented during COP23.
  3. Climate resilience: Climate change is a significant and material risk to business. Companies are pushing for partnerships that will build resilience across their supply chains and the frontline communities experiencing climate impacts.
  4. Carbon pricing: Business is also calling for a meaningful carbon price. Governments need to find ways to align carbon pricing mechanisms, ensuring that pricing is credible, predictable and high enough to drive ambition consistent with the Paris Agreement. See our new in-depth guide for policy makers on carbon pricing.

The private sector will be the force behind emissions reductions across global supply chains,” said Maria Mendiluce, Managing Director at WBCSD. “As we build on the success of Paris, companies have become full partners in shaping an inclusive and prosperous low-carbon economy.”

Follow WBCSD’s twitter and LinkedIn over the course of the week for important updates from the event. 

Take a more in depth look at our policy asks

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By choosing to continue, you agree to our use of cookies. You can learn more about cookies on our privacy policy page.