Countdown to Copenhagen: Government, Business and the Battle Against Climate Change

Part I of this report considers the prospects for Copenhagen, and gives a more detailed overview of the specific policy and regulatory initiatives under discussion within key countries, including the US, EU, Japan, China and India, which collectively account for the lion’s share of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Whatever policymakers in these various regions decide, the impact of regulation will fall primarily on the corporate sector, which is directly responsible for at least 40% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Part II of this report considers the current attitudes within business regarding climate change, the actions that are being taken and the impact of the global economic outlook on the efforts being made. It also poses questions about whether new environmental policies and strategies will blunt competitiveness within business.