Food and drink sector's statement on Copenhagen
The food and drink manufacturing sector calls upon the governments and parties
gathered at Copenhagen on 7 to 18 December 2009 to undertake all efforts to
enable a legally binding, environmentally effective and globally equitable
international agreement on climate change, covering the period 2013-2050.
An
ambitious
agreement is needed to adequately address the dual global challenge of food
security and climate change.
EU industries are part of the solution to this challenge and require a
level-playing-field at international level. Developing countries must be
granted adequate
long-term support for both mitigation and adaptation.
The following elements are essential for a robust global agreement:
- A legally binding, environmentally effective and globally equitable long term
framework: this must involve all countries signing up to long term green house gas
emissions reduction targets and processes to monitor progress towards these
targets
- Long-term legal certainty for low carbon investment: a legally binding, long-term policy framework on climate change is necessary to
provide companies with legal certainty for their business operations and with
the right incentives for large scale investment in low-carbon technologies,
products, services and infrastructure.
- A global level playing field for internationally traded goods: healthy international competition for industry needs to be safeguarded on a
global level. A process must be started so that industrial sectors exposed to
international competition have equivalent obligations.
- Transparent financial support schemes for developing countries: successful climate change mitigation in developing countries critically depends
on adequate financial support for the transfer of low-carbon technologies and
management practices across all economic sectors.
- Effective global adaptation strategies for main affected sectors: the negative effects of climate change require an effective adaptation strategy
in all affected sectors, particularly agriculture.
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Other business statements on Copenhagen
CIAA, the representative body for the EU food and drink manufacturing sector,
has prepared a position paper on Copenhagen (pdf,52kb). FDF chairs the CIAA Climate Change
Working Group which has prepared this position paper.
Business Europe has produced a business briefing (pdf, 229kb) on promoting a secure, competitive climate-friendly energy system.
The Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change has produced “The Copenhagen Communiqué on Climate Change”. A number of FDF members are signatories to this Communiqué.
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More Information
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Last reviewed: 04 Dec 2009