The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) will once again hold the Global Business Day, the premier business event at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference. This year’s event will take place on 3 December at the Diplomatic Club in Doha.
 
Throughout the day, business will demonstrate its commitment to low-carbon economic growth, provide business perspectives on diverse on-going activities around decarbonization and discuss the opportunities and challenges for scaling-up actions. Business Day will look ahead at the business perspective on diversifying the energy mix by 2050 in the framework of global green growth, and the essential drivers to keep moving towards a global low-carbon economy. The afternoon will feature a special focus on the opportunities for green growth in the Middle East.
 
At Doha, where the beginnings of a post 2020 agreement are being sown, it is important to keep up the momentum for climate action as an integral part of business strategy and country planning. New technologies, processes, and services are being developed daily while negotiations continue. Decisions made and signals given at Doha will affect the appetite for bold business action in different sectors and different regions.
 
The event will provide a nexus for business leaders, government officials and others in the climate community to maintain a call for action and to provide momentum towards solutions and partnerships, to counter the climate dilemma.
 
A variety of activities including presentations, panels and high-level dialogues and launches of new initiatives relating to action on climate will take place during the day, focused on international aspects of the energy and climate debate.
 
New launches
 
· The International Energy Agency (IEA) and WBCSD will announce the Technology Roadmap: Low-Carbon Technology for the Indian Cement Industry. The roadmap will outline low-carbon growth pathways for the Indian cement industry. The initiativeis supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.
 
· TheWorld Energy Council(WEC), the WBCSD, and the Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership(GSEP) are uniting their strengths in a new partnership announced today on the sidelines of the COP-18 meeting in Doha. This marks the first time the three global organizations have teamed up.
 
· ICC World Trade Agenda – multilateral trade policies for greener economies
The ICC, in partnership with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has launched the ICC Business World Trade Agenda (WTA) to inject private sector leadership into helping set a multilateral trade policy agenda for the 21st century.  Trade liberalization is essential in the diffusion and deployment of greener and climate-friendly technologies, particularly to developing countries. The WTA makes concrete recommendations for progress in lowering trade barriers to environmental goods and services.
 
Speakers will include
 
Peter Bakker, President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Yvo de Boer, Special Global Advisor, KPMG Global Climate Change and Sustainability Services
Jean-Guy Carrier, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
Bernhard Fonseka, CEO, Siemens
Ali al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia
Remy Rowhani, CEO, International Chamber of Commerce in Qatar
 
Additional speakers include leaders from: Alstom, BMW, CLP, Eskom, International Energy Agency, Novozymes, Oxfam, Philips Lighting, Shell, the World Bank and others.
 
View the full programme and list of speakers.

 
Media are warmly invited to attend.
 
When:  Monday, 3 December 2012
Where: Diplomatic Club, Doha, click here for address details
How: Interested participants will need to pre-register. Capacity is limited and registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Accredited media can attend for free.

 
Agenda
 
9.00 – 9.40                    Opening Remarks and Welcome
 
9:40 – 9:50                    Launch of the GEI
Shifting the balance of the energy mix for 2050
 
9:55 – 10:30                  Science around GHGand the Carbon Cycle
 
10:30 – 11:15                Forging a Pathway
 
11:35– 12:20                 Doha Debate:How to keep the lights on and a cool climate
 
12:45 – 13:00                Announcement of the Low-Carbon Technology Roadmap for the Indian Cement industry
National industry actions towards a low-carbon economy
New Paradigms in the Middle East
 
14:30 – 15:00                Setting the Scene: Ensuring Innovative Growth in the Middle East
 
15:15 – 16:00                Long-term Visions for Economic Growth Opportunities in the Middle East
 
16:45 – 17:30                Innovative Business Models in the Middle East
 
17:30 – 18:00                Closing Ceremony
 
18:00 – 18:10                Launch of the Green Growth Initiative – The ICC World Trade Agenda
 
NB: Registration for the Doha Global Business Day does not replace registration for the official United Nations Climate Change Conference-Doha.
 
About the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
 
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is a CEO-led organization of forward-thinking companies that galvanizes the global business community to create a sustainable future for business, society and the environment. Together with its members, the council applies its respected thought leadership and effective advocacy to generate constructive solutions and take shared action. Leveraging its strong relationships with stakeholders as the leading advocate for business, the council helps drive debate and policy change in favor of sustainable development solutions.
 
The WBCSD provides a forum for its 200 member companies - who represent all business sectors, all continents and a combined revenue of more than $7 trillion - to share best practices on sustainable development issues and to develop innovative tools that change the status quo. The Council also benefits from a network of 60 national and regional business councils and partner organizations, a majority of which are based in developing countries. www.wbcsd.org