New pre-Copenhagen climate change film for SMEs

A new film aimed at encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises to seize the opportunities presented by addressing climate change, featuring Andy Wood from Adnams will be released today.

The ten minute film, entitled ‘Low Carbon, High Potential’, is being launched ahead of COP15, the UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, which starts in early December. It features interviews with 5 leading UK businesses, including SMEs who are already taking up the opportunities presented by the transition to a low carbon economy. They explain the steps that they have taken to reduce their climate impact, why they chose to do it, and the benefits they have received in doing so.

The film is the result of a powerful collaboration between public, private and third sector organisations. These include The Prince’s Mayday Network, The Carbon Trust, The Prince of Wales’ Corporate Leaders’ Group on Climate Change, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO).

The film was premiered at a regional level at the launch of Mayday Network East for businesses in the East of England at the end of November.

The film features business leaders from Adnams, 4energy and Continental Clothing Co, as well as interviews with the CEO of Kingfisher and the Corporate Executive Director of Lloyds Banking Group, Wholesale.

Commenting on his involvement in the film, Adnams’ managing director, Andy Wood, said; “At Adnams, we have transformed ourselves into a low carbon business which brings huge benefits to our organisation, both in money savings, brand reputation and employee engagement. I was delighted to be in a film which encourages other businesses to do the same. Every business can make a difference.”

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said, “Copenhagen is a real business opportunity for Britain. This video shows that going low carbon is not just something for big corporations, but that it is something that can open up new markets, create jobs and present cost saving opportunities to business of all shapes and sizes right here in the UK. That’s why we’ll be pushing for an ambitious outcome in Copenhagen – to help fast-track these opportunities for the benefit of UK business.”

As well as pointing business to the support and advice offered by the MayDay network and the Carbon Trust, the film also encourages SMEs to sign up to The Copenhagen Communiqué ( www.copenhagencommunique.com). The Communiqué, which has already secured the support of over 800 companies in over 60 countries (including 223 from the UK), sets out the business case for an ambitious, robust, effective and equitable  UN climate framework.

The hope of the film collaborators is that it will inspire SMEs to take action: “We hope that the film will help companies of all sizes to better understand the positive carbon and economic impacts that a deal at Copenhagen could have.  The inspiring stories told by these companies should encourage others to look at how cutting their carbon emissions or developing new low carbon products and services can deliver significant commercial benefits,” said Michael Rea, the Carbon Trust’s Chief Operating Officer.