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NTR plc, the international renewable energy group, has announced
the results of a survey of 130 senior business leaders of
Fortune 500 companies on their attitudes towards climate change.
The results of the survey came in the week that NTR plc hosted
a lunch in New York with senior business leaders and policy
advisors to discuss the issue of climate change. The
NTR
Foundation - established to make a measurable societal
impact in the areas of climate change, resource sustainability
and security of energy supply - was also formally launched.
The survey, conducted for NTR plc by Brunswick Group, shows
that senior business leaders believe they do not need to wait
for Congress to act on climate change. Only a third said they
require a legal framework to commit to specific actions or
to create ‘green collar’ jobs.
However, the research also found that one in two business
leaders believe that the lack of clarity on climate legislation
is negatively impacting the ability of the United States as
a nation to compete in the global market. Respondents
also believe that responsibility for tackling climate change
doesn’t just lie with government and that business should
take a greater role in the climate policy debate.
Jim Barry, Chief Executive of NTR plc, said - “The results
clearly show the business community considers the climate
change challenge to be real and is responding, irrespective
of government action. The business leaders surveyed do believe,
however, that the United States needs more cohesive and effective
legislation to ensure the country is not at a serious disadvantage
in a global competitive context.”
Among other findings, the survey showed that -
- Climate change is a significant issue for senior business
leaders - over two-thirds say it will have an important
role in their commercial decisions.
- Responsibility for tackling climate change does not just
lie with government - the majority of senior business leaders
believe that business should take a greater role in engaging
on climate policy.
- Half of senior business leaders believe that US legislation
should take priority over international negotiations on
climate change.
- It already makes commercial sense for business to tackle
climate change - but security of energy supply is a more
pressing issue for almost three-quarters of senior business
leaders.
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