SCOTTISH BUSINESS LEADERS CHALLENGED TO TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE BY THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN

HRH The Prince of Wales and The Prime Minister will address the first ever UK wide audience of top business leaders on Thursday 1^st May at The Prince of Wales’s May Day Business Summit on Climate Change. The Summit will reconvene the May Day Network, the largest group of businesses and organisations in the UK committed to taking collective action to tackle climate change.

Climate change, like the ‘May Day’ distress signal, requires urgent action. The May Day Network has a membership of 900 organisations and growing. It is managed in Scotland by Scottish Business in the Community (SBC), a charity that mobilises business for good. The May Day Network offers businesses a framework to tackle their climate change impacts through a series of pledges and aims to engage 10,000 businesses across the UK by 2012.

On 1 May 2008, 100 Scottish companies will gather in Edinburgh to discuss measures taken to reduce carbon, and commit to further action. The 100 companies attending the event at Our Dynamic Earth will hear from HRH The Prince of Wales and Gordon Brown live via satellite technology, linking with 1600 other businesses across 12 UK locations. This is the first time that the two have shared a platform to address the issue of climate change.

The Summit will inspire even more business leaders to take steps towards a low carbon economy, by asking them to make pledges that involve action within their own companies and by engaging their employees, suppliers and customers. All companies present will be challenged:

• To measure their direct carbon footprint if they haven’t already done so.
• To reduce their carbon output as this is the single most important action they can take.

In Scotland, businesses will also hear from Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change; and senior business leaders from across sectors. Delegates will be asked to give their opinion on the Scottish Government’s plans to tackle climate change. Susan Rice, Chief Executive of Lloyds TSB Scotland, will make the closing address.

Companies attending the May Day Summit will be offered ongoing support by Scottish Business in the Community and partner organisations. Information on progress against pledges, as well as case studies, sources of advice and other information will be available via the website www.sbcscot.com/mayday.

Samantha Barber, Chief Executive of Scottish Business in the Community said:
“Scottish businesses are already demonstrating their willingness to tackle the global crisis of climate change. It’s crucial that businesses work together - not only because of the need for businesses to cut their own emissions, but also because they have enormous influence on the behaviour of the public both in Scotland and beyond.”

For more information on HRH The Prince of Wales’s May Day Business Summit on Climate Change, and to register to take part online visit www.sbcscot.com/mayday.

The Summit is sponsored in Scotland by Alliance Boots, DLA Piper, Lloyds TSB Scotland, ScottishPower and The Scottish Government.

Ends

Notes to Editors

For more information on Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) visit www.sbcscot.com

• Details of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s address and a quote from Stewart Stevenson will be made available to media on Wednesday 30^th April, embargoed until 1^st May.
• Case studies and interviews are available from May Day Network members. Please contact Caryn Robertson on 0131 451 1100, 07920234642
• If you would like to attend the Summit, please contact Caryn Robertson to register.

Media enquiries to:

Lisa Dransfield, External Relations Manager, Scottish Business in the Community, 0131 451 1100, 07717817779, lisadransfield@sbcscot.com

Caryn Robertson, Communications & Events Coordinator, Scottish Business in the Community, 0131 451 1100, 07920234642, carynrobertson@sbcscot.com