Phasing out fossil fuels in favour of electro-mobility is central if we want to battle climate change and make life better in the cities, by reducing air and noise pollution.”
Angela Hultberg, Head of Sustainable Mobility, Ingka Group
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Welcome to the March edition of the We Mean Business coalition newsletter. This month has seen bold progress in the transition to a zero-carbon economy.
Evidence of the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) was on display at the Geneva Motor Show. Audi are so confident in the direction of travel for the industry that the German luxury automaker only showed EVs at the event. Dozens of new electric models were on display, from many of the leading vehicle manufacturers, and Volkswagen stepped up its EV targets to launch 70 fully electric models by 2028.
Leading businesses and members of The Climate Group's EV100 initiative - Metro AG, E.ON, LeasePlan, Ingka Group (formerly IKEA Group) and Vattenfall - joined forces to call on policy makers in Germany to rapidly speed up the shift to EVs. With LeasePlan's CEO Tex Gunning highlighting the clear economic opportunity for Germany in embracing EVs.
Also this month, the world's largest shipping company Maersk committed to set a science-based target, as part of its bold net-zero 2050 vision. Maersk’s greenhouse gas emissions amounted to almost 35.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent last year, which is around one eighth the annual emissions of Poland.
In the chemical industry, India's Gujarat Fluorochemicals is among the companies committing to set a science-based target this month, while Dutch multinational Royal DSM and Finnish mining and metals business Outokumpo Oyj are among those to have their targets approved.
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From the We Mean Business blog
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Countries and companies that get ahead of the curve by embracing the transition to EVs will both help tackle climate change and harness the benefits of the growing market, including job creation, explains Tex Gunning, CEO of LeasePlan.
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More and more companies are embracing the shift to zero-carbon power and reaping the benefits of reduced costs, improved security of supply and positioning themselves for future growth.
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Progress is being made in the Indian cement sector thanks to bold commitments from many of the country's leading producers, which is helping to create positive disruption and set a path for zero-carbon cement.
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Leading businesses and members of The Climate Group's EV100 initiative - Metro AG, E.ON, LeasePlan, Ingka Group (formerly IKEA Group) and Vattenfall - joined forces to call on policy makers to rapidly speed up the shift to EVs in Germany.
The necessary transition towards low-carbon energy in Central and Eastern Europe opens up new investment opportunities in energy-saving design and technology in the region, a new report from The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group has found.
As the effects of climate change continue to exacerbate poverty, inequality and other social issues, the solutions we put forth must include social focus. This includes empowering women to be leaders, writes BSR’s Samantha Harris.
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German carmakers agree to bet on e-cars and hybrids
BMW, Daimler and VW have settled a dispute over how to manage the transition to green mobility, by agreeing to focus on electric and hybrid cars rather than fuel cells, which won’t be ready for many years, reports Clean Energy Wire.
Thousands of school pupils worldwide abandoned classrooms for a day of protest against climate change, inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who protests weekly outside Sweden's parliament, reports the BBC.
National Public Radio takes a look into our climate future: “People didn't know what would happen and they were scared. The changes only moved ahead when people were convinced that they weren't getting ignored and left behind. It was the political struggle of a generation.”
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“This is a shout out to all those great young people who are out on the streets demonstrating, due to the lack of timely action on climate change. Please continue to keep us to account; we do not want to abdicate this generational responsibility,” said Christiana Figueres.
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"Today the #EnergyTansition is pulled by industries and local authorities, as customers and citizens are raising the pressure." @isabelle_kocher reveals ENGIE's ambition to take up this challenge. #ActWithEngie
Renewable energy creates jobs @IRENA estimates that the development of a typical 500 MW offshore wind farm requires around 2.1 million person-days of work http://bit.ly/2NoOW11
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WBCSD Liaison Delegate Meeting
Montreux, Switzerland | 1 - 4 April
Ceres Conference 2019
San Francisco | 29 April - 1 May
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Webinars
CDP Water Webinar:
27 March | 16:00 BST
How to Make Your Business Future-Fit:
2 April | 09:00 - 10:00 DST
CDP Forests Webinar:
3 April, 2019 | 17:00 BST
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We Mean Business is a global coalition of nonprofit organizations working with thousands of the world’s most influential businesses to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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We Mean Business wants to hear from you:
info@wemeanbusinesscoalition.org
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