10 August 2010: Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, addressed, via video link, the sixth Australia-New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference, which convened in Sydney, Australia, from 10-12 August 2010.

In her address, she emphasized that real action and progress in climate change abatement is almost inconceivable without the strong involvement of business, and without significantly increased cooperation within and between the public and the private sectors. Highlighting how the sustainable and green growth trend will increasingly define the global economy, Figueres noted that companies that take sustainability into consideration and increase their energy efficiency would benefit economically. She also emphasized that “successful climate change action will necessitate an unprecedented level of cooperation, not only among governments, but also between business and governments – and among businesses.” [The Statement]