Stage 5. Ostrava - Bielsko Biala. Corporate and private action
After leaving behind Ostrava and its big surroundings dotted with urban areas, today we have entered into Poland through the Karviná district. The cold has continued to accompany us throughout the day, but there was sun and we have enjoyed every ray we have found along the 85 km of the route.
The place where we spent the night is Bielsko Biala; a small and charming city located in the south of the country, at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. Although the terrain was for the most part flat, there were some roller coaster stretches that added a little spice to the route. In particular, the last kilometres have been slightly uphill, affording us a fine opportunity to put both our bicycles and legs to the test.
Today’s debate has been around the leading role that companies and financial institutions can play in the fight against climate change. The private sector should use its resources to help create a low-carbon, climate-friendly and resilient economy as soon as possible. It is crucial to turn the climate challenge into a business opportunity. Moreover, sustainable financing, mainly from the private sector, will be key to tackle this challenge and, in particular, to achieve at least the annual $100 billion climate finance roadmap for 2020, set by the Paris Agreement.
Companies are essential players for the decarbonization of the economy, and the electric power sector is one of the main vectors of this evolution. Long-term investments in technologies, such as the digitalization of the electricity system through smart grids and micro grids, will allow the expansion of distributed generation and will positively impact on the reduction of GHG emissions.Solange Maria Pinto Ribeiro - Neoenergia
Carbon pricing, internal and voluntary, is already adopted in more than 600 companies worldwide. In Brazil, 16 companies already implement internal pricing and another 27 will adopt it until 2019. This decision may reduce future regulatory risks.Marina Grossi - Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS)
Private sector investment of $100B per year is needed to realize climate and sustainable development goals. Leading business institutes need to do more to advance and promote the most successful of the existing, profitable business models to rapidly catalyze additional market entrants.Robyn McGuckin - P4G (Partnerships for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030)
Renewable have the potential to transform the energy sector in Africa whilst providing clean energy to the vast majority of people without power. To do so partnership around new business models between the private and public sector is required - we can’t do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and methods need to be context respectful and specific.Ana Hajduka - Africa GreenCo
The transition to a low carbon economy will create new business opportunities for “climate-friendly” business models.Víctor Viñuales - UN Global Compact Network Spain