A clear message emerging from the COP 16 negotiations in Cancún is that, while government discussions regarding climate change are moving slowly – as was widely anticipated – there is real excitement around international business participation.  

COP 16 may well go down in the history of the climate change discussions as the event where international business made it clear that it’s not simply waiting for governments to take the lead. Being sustainable and communicating about it is vital for businesses’ brands and reputations – and what is incredibly exciting is that many of the world’s most brilliant business minds are now being focussed on our world’s future.

Commentators in Cancún are noting that the World Climate Summit – a meeting for business leaders including such figures as Richard Branson and Ted Turner – is regarded as the most high-profile side event at COP 16.

Jens Nielsen and Michael Mathres, founders of the World Climate summit, say: “We have 10 years to scale and implement existing solutions globally. Cancún will be the beginning of this global transformation, with the business and finance community driving the change.”

Katie Fehrenbacher of the Earth2Tech site, comments from Cancún that the “future of greentech and green-leaning businesses” is providing “the most optimistic glimmer” at the talks. She quotes Sunil Paul, early stage cleantech investor and founder of the Gigaton Throw-Down project (which sponsors research and awards to educate and inspire the private sector to achieve climate stability) as saying that “Even in the absence of government action, companies are taking actions.”

Aimee Christensen, CEO of Christensen Global Strategies, has also commented that “Some of the most exciting action in Cancún is likely to come from the many businesses stepping up to the plate.”

Writing for the Corporate Eco Forum (CEF) site – Ms Christensen says that the dramatic increase in business engagement at COP is notable, and that the conference is becoming a gathering place where businesses serious about sustainability can work collaboratively, forge new partnerships and deals – and work towards building a “global clean economy”.

So, are New Zealand businesses stepping up to the plate? Ideas Shop director Dan Ormond, who has extensive experience in sustainability research and communications, is in Cancún. He’s taking the opportunity to establish what implications and opportunities there are for New Zealand and New Zealand businesses, see where the market is going, what innovations are happening and how businesses globally are communicating their sustainability and using it to advance their brands’ value and reputation.

You can read the regular blogs updates from our kiwi in Cancún on this site – but here’s a taste of what Dan has to say: “New Zealand businesses need to wake up. It’s not enough to say we are clean and green if we aren’t following through on it. Sustainability is about doing good business, being aware of how the market is changing, and positioning yourself to take advantage of it.

“What’s the alternative? To keep a low profile and hope the sustainability storm will pass? That misses the opportunities that are on offer.”

Finally, to quote Aimee Christensen again: “Forward-thinking business leaders know that climate change is real and will impact their bottom lines. They expect increasing pressure from consumers, customers, NGOs, and investors to reduce their climate impacts. And they know that binding rules and regulations—however far off they may seem today—are inevitable. So they are going to Cancún to press governments for clarity sooner rather than later. And they are also eager to work with likeminded companies to advance business models, practices, financing tools, and project structures that can accelerate action in the meantime.”

“What’s so striking about Cancún is that businesses showing up in large numbers are doing so not just to influence governments: they are going to forge new action among themselves and move forward despite the glacial progress of government negotiations.”