New York - Some of
the most important and influential global industry, finance and
government associations in the climate change sector have come
together to launch the inaugural World Climate Summit
(WCS), taking place December 4-5, at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun,
Mexico, in parallel to the UNFCCC COP 16

The group includes the UNEP Finance Initiative, The UN Global
Compact, The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group, The Climate
Group, The World Bank, Sir Richard Branson’s Carbon War Room, ICLEI
- Local Governments for Sustainability, Carbon Disclosure Project,
Bright Green, Club of Beijing, and the International Finance
Corporation.

It will also have the support of the Mexican government’s
international economic promotion agency, ProMexico.

 

As the first founding partner of the WCS and focal point of partner
investment networks, The UNEP Finance Initiative is supported by
the largest coalition of investors through their membership and
network who represent more than $30 trillion of assets under
management.

World Climate Summit 2010 is the
beginning of a new, open and collaborative global 10-year
initiative dedicated to helping governments, businesses and
financiers accelerate solutions to climate
change.

The event will bring more than 300 leading companies, investors
and government leaders together to implement, scale and collaborate
on bottom-up solutions to climate change to help reach regional and
global 2020 targets. 

 

“The World Climate Summit will bring finance, business and
negotiators together to help make those future low carbon markets a
reality,” said Paul Clements-Hunt, Head, The UNEP Finance
Initiative.

As world leaders drive towards a global agreement on climate
change, investors in the world’s capital markets cannot afford to
simply sit and wait. Investors and other financial institutions are
determined to work with policy-makers to catalyse new low carbon
markets worth USD trillions.

“What is needed now is a stronger commitment to collectively
support bottom-up efforts and to amplify the uptake of green
solutions. The World Climate Summit is a platform where business
can lead and inspire Governments to act to ultimately turn the tide
on climate change,” noted

George Kell, Executive Director, The UN Global Compact

Some key highlights of the World Climate Summit include:

• Convening, under the leadership of The UNEP Finance Initiative,
  the largest network of investors and financial intermediaries
  demanding climate change action ever assembled-representing more
  than $30 trillions of assets under management.
  
  
  
  



• Providing an unparalleled global media platform with CNN
  International, TIME, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and Dow
  Jones.
  
  
  
  



• Uniting the efforts of some of the largest global companies in
  their industries: lighting, energy efficiency, housing, mining,
  retailing, car, infrastructure, and renewable energy sectors.
  
  
  
  



• Introducing new initiatives such as a new global index on
  carbon emissions, new funds, renewable energy projects, and a gala
  dinner celebrating the best cities, companies and leaders in the
  world.

“We have 10 years to scale and implement existing solutions such
as energy efficiency globally. The World Climate Summit will help
deliver that with businesses, financiers and governments.” 
Jens Nielsen & Michael Mathres, Founders, World Climate
Summit