Businesses to take climate change action

Evening News November 07, 2007

OVER 100 of Scotland's top business leaders were meeting in Edinburgh today to pledge action on climate change.

The Prince of Wales' Business Summit on Climate change marks the beginning of a business-led movement for increased action on the threat of carbon emissions to the planet.

Prince Charles was due to address the audience at The Hub via video-link from Wales where a simultaneous event was taking place.

John Swinney, cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth, was also due to speak at the summit.

Companies will be asked to make firm commitments to reduce their carbon emissions.

The event, which has been organised by Scottish Business in the Community in conjunction with the Carbon Trust, brought together senior industry figures across a range of sectors and regions.

The gathering follows on from the inaugural event in England in May and will take the number of companies making a commitment to tackling climate change in the UK to over 1500.

Samantha Barber, chief executive of Scottish Business in the Community, said: "Scottish businesses have been at the forefront of efforts to tackle climate change for some time now.

"The summit will provide a focus for collective business action on climate change - harnessing the power of business to change their operating practices."

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