Big business demands strong Copenhagen agreement

Over 850 of the world's largest companies, including Shell, Tesco, Kingfisher, Vodafone, Unilever, John Lewis and Lloyds will today call on Gordon Brown to do his upmost to secure a strong agreement at the upcoming Copenhagen climate change summit.

The firms, who are members of the Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group, will set out the business case for a strong and effective legally binding international deal and underline their belief that economic development can not be sustained unless the climate is stabilised.

Craig Bennett, co-director of the group, said companies across all sectors operating in both developed and developing economies were united in calling for an ambitious deal to be struck at Copenhagen.

"If it is possible for such a variety of companies to agree on the basic shape of an ambitious, robust and equitable global deal on climate change – surely it should now be possible for the world's governments to do the same?" he asked.

Over 100 of the companies will gather at Downing Street this evening to highlight the business opportunities a low carbon economy can offer and urge the prime minister to do all he can to ensure an agreement is reached in Copenhagen.

Many of the companies will be small and medium businesses that all are already building low carbon business models and exporting green products to other countries.

Truett Tate, Group Executive Director of Lloyds Banking Group said every business would be impacted by climate change.

"For some it will be about increased risks but for others it will be the increased opportunities from new markets," he said. "An effective global agreement in Copenhagen is critical to give business the certainty and frameworks that are needed to boost global investment and speed us towards a low carbon economy."

The Corporate Leaders Group said that the UK market for low carbon and environmental goods and services is currently the sixth largest in the world at around £107bn – over seven per cent of GDP. It added that the sector currently employs 880,000 people, rising to an estimated 1.2 million by 2015.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he welcomed the support from business for a strong agreement at Copenhagen.

"Our transition to a low carbon economy will be a key driver of our future economic prosperity," he said. "UK companies are at the forefront of this transformation, their innovation and expertise demonstrates why this is one of best places in the world for low carbon business."

The latest move from the Coroporate Leaders Group follows a series of petitions designed to urge political leaders to step up measures to tackle climate change. Earlier this year, the group organised the Copenhagen Communique, which saw business leaders from over 500 global firms sign up to a statement calling on politicians to deliver a robust deal in Copenhagen.

The news follows the announcement yesterday that the Prince of Wales will attend the Copenhagen summit and call on world leaders to facilitate a strong deal.