Over 100 top companies come together to help stop climate crisis
19 Feb 2007
More than 100 major companies across Sydney have agreed to take part in Earth Hour, making it the largest corporate participation in a climate change event in Australia.
In Sydney this Wednesday 21 February 2007, many of these companies will come together at one of the most important corporate briefings this year.
Leaders of top companies will attend a briefing about what climate change means for the business sector and how to take action. The companies will start by turning off their building lights for one hour at 7.30pm on Saturday 31 March 2007 for Earth Hour. This is the first step toward cutting Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions by 5% in 2007.
Greg Bourne, CEO, WWF-Australia said: "We've had tremendous support from the business community for Earth Hour - the spotlight is now on those businesses that we haven't spoken to."
The companies committed to Earth Hour come from a wide range of sectors from producers of fast moving consumer goods Nestle Australia and Coca-Cola Amatil to the banking sector's ANZ Banking Group Limited and St George Bank.
Many are already taking part in climate change reduction as part of the 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative, run by the City of Sydney, with North Sydney and Parramatta City Councils.
"Buildings produce 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This link between buildings and emissions is one that has long been ignored, and we applaud the Earth Hour initiative for focusing on it," said Ross Taylor, CEO Lend Lease Retail & Communities.
"At Lend Lease we are committed to measuring our impacts to continually reduce emissions in what we develop, build, own and operate," said Ross Taylor.
Earth Hour is about more than turning off building lights, it's about long-term commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Designing and constructing energy efficient buildings is an important part of the equation and I congratulate building owners who are responsible for the recent construction of inspiring and exciting new buildings," Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said.
ANZ is also working with WWF-Australia on a number of fronts to help reduce ANZ's environmental footprint and build awareness and understanding of sustainability issues. Steve Targett, Group Managing Director, Institutional, said: "The onus is on corporate Australia to find a way to address these issues. We are major employers and our people expect us not only to act in their best interests, but also to provide leadership for the community. Earth Hour is an excellent thought-starter - let's use it to stimulate action on climate change."
All businesses, workers and residents are urged to support Earth Hour. To find out how you can get involved visit www.earthhour.org.
Spokespeople available for interview
AMP Capital Investors (3 CBDs signatory) Head of Property, Andrew Bird said: "The world has changed. Sustainability is no longer an altruistic choice but a must for business if it wishes to succeed. As a property investor, we believe that the future value of property assets will be enhanced or diminished by the market's assessment of their environmental impact. We have a responsibility to our investors, our tenants and the wider community to deliver a more sustainably built environment."
To interview Andrew Bird, please contact Tanny Tsanis, Senior Media Manager, AMP on 0434 073 890
St.George Bank, Group Executive Strategy, Peter Clare said: "At St George we're committed to creating a 'Greener Dragon' and have a range of initiatives in place designed to contribute to a sustainable operating environment. We believe it's the little things that can make a big difference, which is why we are committed to Earth Hour and urge all businesses in Sydney to get behind this initiative."
To interview Peter Clare, please contact Lara Daniels, Corporate Relations, St George on 0419 226 449
The following are a number of the companies that have committed to Earth Hour:
AGL, Allens Arthur Robinson, AMP Capital Investors, ANZ Banking Group Limited, Arup, Australia Telescope National Facility, Babcock & Brown Environmental Investments Limited, Blake Dawson Waldron, British Airways, CB Richard Ellis, Centennial Coal Company Limited, Cisco Systems, City of Sydney, Coca-Cola Amatil Limited, Coca-Cola Australia, Colliers International, Colonial First State Property, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Dimension Data, DTZ Australia, EcCell - Environmental Management pty ltd, Eli Lilly Australia, Energetics, ENVIRON, EP&T PTY LTD, Ernst & Young, Ferrero Australia, Fairfax Media, HamiltonThomson, HSBC Bank Australia Limited, ING Real Estate, InterContinental Hotel, Investa Property Group, Jones Lang LaSalle, Lend Lease, KPMG, Leo Burnett, Lighting Company, Local Government Shires Association, Low Energy, McMillan Print, Minter Ellison Lawyers, Mirvac Group, Mission Australia, MLC, Multiplex Facilities Management Pty Ltd, National Australia Bank, Nestle Australia Ltd, North Sydney Council, NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability, NSW Health, OPTUS, Origin Energy Limited, Oroton Group Limited, Parramatta City Council, Perpetual Limited, Positive Outcomes, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Property Council of Australia, Queen B, Queen Victoria Building, Red Agency, St George Bank, Starr Partners Real Estate, Stockland, Swaab Attorneys, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Thales Australia, The Committee for Sydney, The Galeries Victoria, The GPT Group, The Strand, UBS, Unwired Group Limited, Veda Advantage Limited, Westpac Banking Corporation, Woodhead, Woollahra Municipal Council, Woolworths Limited and WorleyParsons Limited.
For more information
Angela Heck, Press Office, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1268
Mobile: 0421 053 023
Email: aheck@wwf.org.au
Jacqueline McArthur, Media Communications Manager, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 9281 5515
Mobile: 0408 626 780
Email: jmcarthur@wwf.org.au
