Editor's view: preparing for climate change

Louise Bateman, editor, GreenWise

10th August 2010

GreenWise editor Louise Bateman shares her thoughts about the latest developments shaping the green business agenda.

Preparing for a changing climate
Climate change science has been under fire of late, but reports that global warming is partly to blame for soaring temperatures in Moscow and wildfires around the Russian capital is a stark warning of what the future holds if we don't tackle rising carbon emissions and adapt our businesses to withstand floods, droughts and other natural disasters.

Indeed, a survey of UK businesses carried out for the Government by Ipsos MORI has found that less than a quarter of them have begun preparing for the risks and opportunities climate change poses despite one in three having been significantly affected in the last three years by extreme weather such as flooding and drought. In fact for some companies, climate change will present new business opportunities, so ignoring the issue could be doubly costly.

New data, same old politics
While it's good to see new data has been released showing climate change is "undeniable", how significant this will be in getting a new global climate deal signed in Cancun later this year, remains very doubtful. UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon has already reportedly come out and said that a deal may not be reached. Nevertheless, the research should repair some of the damage caused by the 'Climategate’ controversy. Led by the US National Oceans and Atmospheric Administration with other agencies such as the Met Office participating, it uses data not available to the now somewhat discredited UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report of 2007 and draws on almost a dozen indicators of climate and concludes each one shows warming caused by greenhouse gases. While it remains to be seen just how much impact the new data will have on political action, it should help confidence in the business sector as the need for low carbon investment grows.

Action speaks louder than words
When it comes to low carbon investment, the Coalition Government should take heed of CBI warnings that the billions of private sector investment required to build the UK’s green energy infrastructure are at risk of evaporating unless it acts fast to bring clarity to the situation. Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has responded quickly to dispel concerns that the Government lacks urgency over ensuring UK energy supplies are secure and low carbon, saying among other things this week, "we'll introduce a new efficient, democratically-accountable planning system that provides a fast-track process for major infrastructure projects. This should take no longer than under the current regime.‪" Encouraging words, perhaps, but the Coalition doesn’t have long left to prove that it’s serious about being the "greenest Government ever".

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