Unilever CEO Praises Paris Accord

The leadership shown by the French and Peruvian governments in integrating action by cities, regions, businesses and civil society – alongside the formal negotiations over the past year – has created an unprecedented movement of private sector action in support of an ambitious global deal.

The result is an unequivocal signal to the business and financial communities, one that will drive real change in the global economy:

• The billions of dollars pledged by developed countries will be matched with trillions of dollars that will flow to low carbon investment.
• Leadership actions by hundreds of businesses, for example to move to 100% renewable energy, will become the norm for hundreds of thousands.
• Investment in innovation will accelerate in critical low carbon areas, and we can expect the pace of change to accelerate as the world rallies around this historic moment, implementing the commitments they have made in Paris.

The consequences of this agreement go far beyond the actions of governments. They will be felt in banks, stock exchanges, board rooms and research centres as the world absorbs the fact that we are embarking on an unprecedented project to decarbonise the global economy. This realisation will unlock trillions of dollars and the immense creativity and innovation of the private sector who will rise to the challenge in a way that will avert the worst effects of climate change.

This agreement establishes a clear path to decarbonise the global economy within the lifetimes of many people alive today, reaping the benefits of accelerated infrastructure investment, cleaner air, greater security and a growing low carbon global economy.

In addition to the outstanding leadership shown by President Hollande, Laurent Fabius, Ségolène Royal, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal and Laurence Tubiana, this success is testament to the leadership within the United Nations family. Both the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, and Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, have shown tireless dedication to achieving the result we witness today.

Governments, businesses and people everywhere now clearly realise that the cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of action. Achieving a zero emissions economy is the greatest business opportunity of the century.

We must also acknowledge the thought leadership played by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, whose work over the past two years has helped many economic leaders understand the inherent benefits of decisive climate action, and how the common good increasingly aligns with the national interest. This work, combined with the mobilisation of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the World Economic Forum, the United Nations Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition, has catalysed business leadership in ways never before seen.