19 November 2013: The UN Global Compact, UNFCCC Secretariat and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the ‘Caring for Climate (C4C) Business Forum: Innovation, Ambition, Collaboration’ on the sidelines of the 19th Conference of the Parties (COP 19) to the UNFCCC. The Forum represents the first time the public and private sector have collaborated to create climate change commitments, plans and solutions as an official part of the COP.

The Forum showcased innovative business commitments and solutions for climate change, including Dow’s framework to mitigate the footprint of large events and produce the first carbon neutral Olympics and Ikea’s plans to use 100% renewable energy by 2020. The Forum also hosted the Climate and Energy Action Hub, where entrepreneurs presented their projects to potential public and private partners.

The Forum provided an opportunity for companies to demonstrate “real-life climate-change solutions [that] can help to build precedents and public support that are needed to move policymakers to action,” said Georg Kell, UN Global Compact Executive Director. Inviting businesses to develop scalable solutions to drive climate action “can create the political space for more ambition in the UN climate process, which as part of a virtuous cycle can in turn catalyze more business action,” Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, said. Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, reflected that “climate change and dwindling availability of natural resources will shape future patterns of profit and loss while driving new and smarter markets,” emphasizing companies that adapt to these factors will survive and thrive in the long-term.

The UN Global Compact launched its ‘Guide to Responsible Corporate Engagement in Climate Policy’ at the Forum. The Guide outlines how companies can manage and report on their direct and indirect influences on climate policy through three actions. C4C also launched its 2013 progress report.

The Forum included sessions on adaptation, capacity building, financing, mitigation, responsible policy engagement, technology transfer and transparency. UNEP’s Finance Initiative, the Climate Group, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) organized the Forum, which took place from 19-20 November 2013.

C4C, led by the UN Global Compact in partnership with UNFCCC and UNEP, is the world’s largest voluntary business and climate initiative. [UN Press Release] [UNEP Press Release] [C4C Website] [Forum Website] [Publication: Guide to Responsible Corporate Engagement in Climate Policy] [Caring for Climate: Progress Report 2013]