Letter from Portugal
Letter from Portugal
Climate change is an unprecedented global challenge that is impacting on economic and social development worldwide. The challenges ahead are of great magnitude, therefore all citizens; the public and the private sector; scientists and policy- makers, should engage in promoting and implementing a proper use of both scientific knowledge and the principles of economic sustainability. In addition, it is crucial that all stakeholders identify and work with the solutions that the world is demanding.
In spite of the current economic adverse situation, Portugal has an enormous wealth that deserves further investigation and should be able to find a way out of the crisis by promoting and exploring the opportunities of a “greener economy”, achieving the objectives of energy security, sustainability and competitiveness. In fact, Governments and private sector industries must accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy at a global level. To start with, they need to take into account the climatic vulnerability of the current economic model. Secondly, they have to manage their resources and their emissions in a more efficient way.
The Carbon Disclosure Project requests companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies on behalf of 551 signatories with US$71 trillion in assets. Company responses are being scored on the quality and completeness of their carbon disclosure and on their carbon performance. At the same time, it is worth noting that businesses themselves are moving in the right direction by undertaking their own assessments. In this framework, the CDP will contribute to the internationalization of Portuguese companies by making public company responses and the Iberia 125 report including the company scores on disclosure and performance available on the CDP website. Furthermore, CDP will promote the visibility of Portuguese companies and this will render them more attractive to long-term investors who are committed to energy efficiency, renewable energy and low-carbon exposure.
The assessment of Portuguese companies will assist in formalizing and displaying its climate strategy. Such a strategy should: a) take into account Portugal’s economic, geographic and social attributes; b) implement proactive mitigation and adaptation policies; and c) take advantage of the opportunities for change that are arising out of the current crisis. Following those recommendations - and having Portuguese emissions in 1990 as the reference - Portugal will be able to meet the European target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% or 30% until 2020.
The negotiation of a future climate regime post 2012 is currently under way and in a moment like this, the MAMAOT acknowledges the importance of CDP assessing Portugal’s business sector efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and also by promoting the international visibility of Portuguese companies.
Assunção Cristas Minister of Agriculture, Sea, Environment and Regional Planning
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