Members of the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy at the coalition's launch in June 2019. Photo: Stephen Hui, Pembina Institute
VANCOUVER / MUSQUEAM, SQUAMISH & TSLEIL-WAUTUTH TERRITORIES — On behalf of the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy, co-chair Karen Tam Wu issued the following statement in response to Canadian students’ calls to join the global climate strike (September 27):
“Students around the world are calling on us to join them in a global climate strike between September 20 and 27. Governments across the globe, including hundreds in Canada, have declared a climate emergency. From all corners of society, we are witnessing a groundswell of support for urgent action to solve the human-caused climate crisis.
“We heed the calls of youth climate champions for action now. As leading companies operating in B.C., we are proud to work together as members of the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy to be part of the solution. As drivers of the economy, businesses have a responsibility to help lead the charge to a sustainable future. We call on governments to put policies and incentives in place that spark clean innovation and fuel demand for low-carbon goods and services. We want governments to support businesses in their efforts to reduce carbon pollution and invest in clean solutions. And we are asking for concrete steps to protect communities from the harmful impacts of climate change on public health and safety, infrastructure, property, and the economy.
“Climate change is everybody’s business. Our customers, our employees and our families want to live in healthy communities with a safe climate and a thriving economy. In this state of emergency, we call on our fellow businesses to join us and loudly champion climate solutions.”
Quick Facts
• The Business Coalition for a Clean Economy’s 45 member companies earn more than $4.3 billion in combined annual revenues.
• These companies employ more than 13,000 individuals.
• Coalition members Earnest Ice Cream, Hootsuite, Innergex, Lush Cosmetics, MEC, Modo, Nature’s Path, Persephone Brewing, Portable Electric, and Vancity are supporting the climate strikes planned across Canada on the 27th in a variety of ways, including promoting the strike, closing stores and/or giving staff time off to attend the strike.
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Watch a video about the Business Coalition: pembina.org/BCCE
Join the conversation on Twitter: #CleanBCBiz
Contact
To get in touch with coalition members available for comment:
Kelly O’Connor
Associate communications director, Pembina Institute
416-220-8804
About the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy (BCCE)
The Business Coalition for a Clean Economy (BCCE), an initiative of the Pembina Institute, is a network of leading B.C. businesses and organizations aligned behind a vision for a clean and prosperous economy and climate action. We believe that strong climate and energy policy provides certainty and is good for business. Learn more: pembina.org/BCCE