1. Showcase action on climate

One key way that companies can give policymakers the confidence to increase their own climate ambition is to showcase how they are taking concrete action and creating a positive change in the real economy.
Companies sharing their stories of progress included consumer goods company Unilever, U.K. telecommunications giant BT, furniture maker IKEA and Indian industrial conglomerate Mahindra Group. The stories they told show how they are pursuing low-carbon growth strategies, often with significant cost savings along the way, which should build confidence for national governments to move further and faster.

2. Inspire your peers  

Taking up science based tagets, one of those companies is Mahindra Sanyo Steel, which recently became the first steel company globally to have an approved science-based target. The other Mahindra Group companies committed to setting science-based targets include activities ranging from tourism to auto parts recycling, and include the largest tractor manufacturer in the world.More than 410 of those companies have committed to, or have set, science-based targets, aligning their business plans with the ambition of the Paris Agreement. This is well on the way to achieving Mahindra’s target of 500 by September’s summit.
 

3. Open dialogue

A third way the business community is encouraging policymakers to raise their climate ambition is through face-to-face dialogue.
This was highly effective during the negotiations of the Paris Agreement in 2015, when leading businesses were able to sit down with policymakers and talk openly about challenges and opportunities, and which policies would help spur positive business action. It’s a conversation that continues. The growing list of countries setting end dates for the sale of internal combustion engine passenger vehicles includes India, the U.K. and Norway. And many countries are ahead of schedule on the commitments made in their first NDCs.
By continuing to set ambitious targets for themselves and sharing stories of their progress and success in achieving their goals with their peers and with policymakers, major businesses can continue to lead the way toward a prosperous low-carbon future, driving innovation and competitiveness and future-proofing their businesses along the way. 

Source:Green Biz

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Picture credit to:Marc Wieland