Scots firms vow to save planet at PM’s summit

By Johnathon Rennie
The Evening Times May 02, 2008

BUSINESS chiefs have met Prince Charles and Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discuss the impact of climate change and what firms of all sizes can do about it.

More than 1600 firms from across the country attended the event in Edinburgh yesterday and pledged to take action to reduce their carbon footprint.

It's the first time the prince and Mr Brown have shared a platform on climate change.

Scottish Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "Climate change is having a major impact on the world we live in. This is a challenge for us all and business has an important role to play in this work.

"The need to adapt to the consequences of climate change and drive down emissions can create new opportunities for Scottish businesses with new markets for lower carbon energy products likely to be worth $500billion (£250bn) by 2050."

"Our proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill will set a framework within which Scottish industries can invest with certainty in world-beating, low-carbon technologies.

"The proposal for a statutory target to reduce Scottish emissions by 80% by 2050 signals Scotland's serious intent to lead the global effort to combat climate change.

"I'm confident Government, business and all of the people of Scotland are ready to rise to the challenge of climate change and that together we can build the right world for future generations to enjoy."

One of the speakers at the summit was James Curran, ex-head of science and environmental strategy with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

In February, he opened his own environmental store in Glasgow, called Entrading.

It offers customers the chance to source low-energy or recycled household products that reduce our environmental impact.

Mr Curran said: "There's no business and no person on this planet that won't be affected by climate change.

"Customers are increasingly going to expect business to behave in a caring way - by reducing energy and resource use and by creating networks to trade in each other's wastes and by-products.

"Achieving zero waste means total re-use of resources and I welcome this summit as a signpost to our second industrial revolution - the reuse, renew, recycle revolution."

The hope is that the summit will help drive forward a Scottish Climate Bill, aimed at reducing carbon emissions, and give firms the chance to exploit new markets from the changes they make to their working practices.

Scottish Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "Climate change is having a major impact on the world we live in. This is a challenge for us all and business has an important role to play in this work.

"The need to adapt to the consequences of climate change and drive down emissions can create new opportunities for Scottish businesses with new markets for lower carbon energy products likely to be worth $500billion (£250bn) by 2050."

"Our proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill will set a framework within which Scottish industries can invest with certainty in world-beating, low-carbon technologies.

"The proposal for a statutory target to reduce Scottish emissions by 80% by 2050 signals Scotland's serious intent to lead the global effort to combat climate change.

"I'm confident Government, business and all of the people of Scotland are ready to rise to the challenge of climate change and that together we can build the right world for future generations to enjoy."

One of the speakers at the summit was James Curran, ex-head of science and environmental strategy with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

In February, he opened his own environmental store in Glasgow, called Entrading.

It offers customers the chance to source low-energy or recycled household products that reduce our environmental impact.

Mr Curran said: "There's no business and no person on this planet that won't be affected by climate change.

"Customers are increasingly going to expect business to behave in a caring way - by reducing energy and resource use and by creating networks to trade in each other's wastes and by-products.

"Achieving zero waste means total re-use of resources and I welcome this summit as a signpost to our second industrial revolution - the reuse, renew, recycle revolution."