A number of international corporations were calling on the Group of Eight (G8) leaders meeting in Italy this week, to agree on a global climate deal by the end of 2009 and to set ambitious targets to cut carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The companies, which included Johnson & Johnson, Nike, Lafarge, Tetra Pak, Nokia, Hewlett Packard, and the Coca-Cola Company, partnered with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), to announce a new campaign encouraging governments and policy-makers to "let the clean economy begin".

"Traditionally, governments give businesses environmental targets," said WWF Climate Business engagement head Oliver Rapf. "This time, many of the world's leading companies are already ahead on the issue, and are urging governments to deliver a strong framework to reduce CO2 emissions globally," he continued.

The campaign, which would run across a variety of media, aimed to persuade decision-makers at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen in December to deliver an ambitious, fair and effective agreement to cut global greenhouse gas emissions. This week's G8 Summit was viewed as a vital step along that path.

"The G8 is about successful economies and successful businesses," said WWF International director general James Leape. "G8 leaders need to recognise that moving to a low-carbon future is vital and urgent - for the planet, for business, and for the global economy," he added.

The WWF Climate Savers campaign, focused on innovation and solutions. "The Climate Savers companies have grown their businesses while cutting their emissions. They have proved that growth and low carbon are more than compatible - they are complementary. The Climate Savers companies are saying to the politicians: ‘We've done it - now it's your turn'," emphasised Leape.

"Reducing your carbon footprint is not only achievable, it's inspiring," Fairmont Hotels & Resorts president Thomas Storey. Fairmont committed to reduce its CO2 emissions by 20% by 2013.

"Call it clean. Call it green. Or simply call it jobs," said Tetra Pak CEO Dennis Jönsson. Tetra Pak committed to reduce its CO2 emissions by 10% by 2010.

"Climate responsibility is simple - it's just good business sense," said Nokia Siemens Networks CEO Simon Beresford-Wylie. The company has committed to reduce its CO2 footprint by two-million tons, by improving the energy efficiency of its base stations by 40%, and by reducing building energy consumption by 6%.

"By cutting carbon emissions by 15% we're experiencing positive development on net profits" said Elopak CEO Niels Petter Wright. Elopak committed to reduce CO2 emissions by 15% by 2011.

WWF said that Climate Savers companies were leading the way by example. By 2010 they would reduce their CO2 emissions by 50-million tons over the past decade of action, while creating competitive advantage, increasing shareholder value, and in many cases, increasing their profitability.