Wednesday 11 December 2024
Cambridge
About
“If you want to show leadership, you have to act,” said the Rt Hon Lord Alok Sharma, at the Net Zero Parliamentary Business Showcase, hosted by the UK Corporate Leaders Group, held on Tuesday 10 December.
Lord Sharma was delivering his remarks, alongside Julia King, The Baroness Brown of Cambridge; Minister Kerry McCarthy, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, at the cross-party event for businesses and MPs in the House of Commons. CLG UK members convened with policymakers and parliamentarians to build stronger relationships and demonstrate the private sector's commitment to achieving net zero and climate adaptation goals.
The exclusive event gave the opportunity to discuss the tangible successes and innovative approaches businesses are taking, as well as increase visibility of CLG UK business members.
Key takeaways:
“We should never doubt the UK’s ability to punch above our weight when it comes to climate leadership,” stated Minister McCarthy. And Keir Starmer’s attendance at COP29 helped our standing on the world stage, especially with such an ambitious NDC announcement.
“Businesses are showing that a green economy is a thriving community,” remarked Baroness Brown, who sponsored the event. “And it’s so important that people in our country hear that and understand that a green economy is good for business.”
“This has been one of the most tumultuous years in many decades, but businesses are carrying on. I commend Starmer and his government for being ambitious on climate with the UK’s NDC figure of 81%. Because if you want to show leadership internationally, you have to show it domestically,” said Lord Sharma.
“Sustainability must become a competitive advantage, not a compliance exercise."
Referencing CISL’s recent landmark report, ‘Survival of the Fittest: From ESG to Competitive Sustainability’, CISL Systems Change Officer, Eliot Whittington, said that while corporate commitments and innovation have achieved progress, the market alone has not delivered the scale of change required. It’s time for a shift and we must move beyond incremental actions and actually address the structural changes needed to align long-term sustainability with short-term commercial viability.
Speeches were moderated by the UK Corporate Leaders Group Director, Beverley Cornaby, Sophie Miremadi, VP Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, AVEVA, and CLG UK Co-Chair, and closing remarks were made by Eliot Whittington.
CLG UK members showcased their work throughout the afternoon, including Amazon, AVEVA, EDF, GSK, Johnson Matthey, Lloyds Banking Group, Low Carbon, National Grid, Salesforce, ScottishPower, Signify, SSE plc and VELUX.