More businesses rally behind a price on carbon

www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au
06 Jul 2011

Almost 85 companies including Infigen Energy, Grocon, and The Body Shop have signed on to a joint statement backing a price on carbon. The companies join previous signatories including GE, AGL Energy, Fujitsu, IKEA, Alstom and Pacific Hydro to make a total of 54 companies pledging their support for a carbon price.

The combined businesses represent a wide variety of sectors from across the economy including infrastructure, energy, capital, technology and retail. They have united behind the statement to encourage all members of Parliament to take positive action and assist Australia's transition to a low-carbon economy.

The businesses agree that a carbon price with cost effective complementary measures is critical to reducing Australia's emissions and ensuring Australia remains globally competitive as the rest of the world reduces their emissions. The new wave of businesses signing the statement coincides with the launch of a website called Business for a Clean Economy. This has been developed out of concern that many businesses are not being represented in the current carbon price debate.

The site will allow other businesses, no matter what their size or industry, to show their support for a price on carbon. Current signatories are urging more businesses to sign the statement through the Business for a Clean Economy website: www.b4ce.com.au The next four months will now see carbon price legislation drafted and debated in Parliament and business support will continue to provide an important voice in the debate.

Daniel Grollo, CEO of Grocon, said:
"Personally I'm in favour of a cost on carbon. As I look forward in Australia, I see us at the threshold of some fantastic times and I get disillusioned when I see some critical decisions that need to be made for our future getting bogged down in politics."

Mark Kindness, CEO of The Body Shop Australia, said:
"Practicing responsible environmental stewardship and advocating for strong climate change legislation is a key priority for us as a business. We hope the price on carbon will act as an incentive for corporate Australia to think twice before choosing carbon intensive business practices."


The Business Statement
"As major Australian and international corporations and representative associations operating across the Australian economy we strongly support the introduction of a well-designed carbon price to support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Australia must aim to be globally competitive in clean energy, energy efficiency and low-carbon technology. Pricing carbon is critical to providing business certainty and unlocking the jobs and investment that will accompany the transition to a prosperous, cleaner and internationally competitive economy.

As the costs of action are outweighed by the costs of delay the carbon price should be implemented as soon as possible. A price should be accompanied by appropriate transitional assistance for households and business, as well as complementary measures that reduce emissions at least economic cost.

We look forward to working with the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee and all members of Parliament as they implement a carbon price."

Click here for the full list of signatories.