4 June 2008 | Luca Del Buono

 

The First International Scientific and Business Congress on Protecting the Climate - A World Joint Strategy - was held on April 22nd 2008 in City Hall in Frankfurt, Germany. The Lord Browne of Madingley was the Patron of the Congress. Dr R K Pachauri, Chairman IPCC sent a supporting message to the Congress Participants and Organizers.

The key speaker at the Congress was Mr. Jukka Uosukainen, Chairman UNFCCC Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT).

He said: "For the post-2012 period, we need new and enhanced mechanisms for the development and transfer of climate friendly technologies. The private sector will be the main vehicle to implement technologies transfer. Their experience and expertise should be fully used in the future climate regime".

This Congress was s a start for creating a fusion between Business, Government and Science to recognize the gravity of the climate problem.

This Congress was unique in that it sought to establish a framework to combine the contributions of business, technology, science and government in seeking opportunities for effective policies and investments in the context of current world economic conditions.

The congress was focused on the challenges and opportunities for business and government leaders to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its impact on their organizations

The practical goal of the Congress was to develop a World Joint Climate Protection Strategy with subsequent recommendations. The Closing Address of the Congress took the form of an Open Letter to Dr Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the IPCC and Mr Björn Stigson, President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Representatives from Porsche AG, Germany, UNFCCC Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT), Shell International Renewable B.V., Netherland, and the German Renewable Energy Federation participated in roundtable discussions to address the issue at hand.

The Congress proposed the notion to support the further development of the World Joint Climate Protection Strategy by holding annual Congresses, under the motto "Achieving a Sustainable Balance", with the 2nd Congress in New Delhi, India in 2009.

Following the conference, an open letter was sent to Dr Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the IPCC and Mr Björn Stigson, President of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development: this price should be set by markets within a new Protocol to succeed the Kyoto Protocol under the UNFCCC, with explicit provision for:

• programme CDM that applies to both the land and the ocean and includes Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation REDD mechanisms
• a global emission cap-and-trade scheme GETS for international activities such as aviation and shipping, which have hitherto been substantially outside national jurisdiction
• the cap set to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from international activities
• allowances under the GETS should be fully auctioned and revenues used to support adaptation and mitigation through the reformed CDM and new REDD mechanisms
• policies and measures should be developed to deter and prevent from further use of fossil-fuel resources
• official standards agencies and patent bodies should urgently seek to convene sectoral meetings to establish international standards for low-GHG technologies and products appropriate for decarbonisation, building on advancement of international laws and procedures.

The Congress proposes to support the further development of World Joint Climate Protection Strategy initiated by the first gathering by holding annual Congresses, under the motto "Achieving a Sustainable Balance".

Highlights of the Second Congress in India in 2009, among others, will be the further development and transfer of clean technologies as well as a localisation programme with the emphasis on private business and education.

The Congress solicits support for the Second Congress by participation of scientific, business and political leaders, funding, inclusion in governmental programs and other involvements.

On behalf of the Congress held on 22nd April 2008 in City Hall, Frankfurt am Main, Germany:

• Mrs Elen Meder - Initiator and Official Organiser of the Congress, CEO, Academy for European Management GmbH, Germany
• Dr Ian S F Jones - Scientific Patron of the Congress, Director, Ocean Technology Group, University of Sydney, Australia
• Dr Terry Barker - Chair of the Congress, Chairman Cambridge Econometrics, and Director, Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR), Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, UK
• Mr Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes - Facilitator of the Congress and Speaker, Board Member, BEE – German Renewable Energy Federation, Germany
• Mr Stephen Voller - Facilitator of the Congress and Speaker, CEO, Voller Energy Group Plc (LSE: VLR), UK
• Dr Gustav R. Grob - Media Partner of the Congress and Speaker, President CMDC and Executive Secretary of ISEO, Switzerland
• Mr Gerhard Stryi-Hipp - Speaker of the Congress, General Manager, Solar Federal Association, Germany
• Mr Rolf Messerschmidt - Speaker of the Congress, Director, Planning Company Joachim Eble Architektur, Germany

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