Al Gore event set to boost Scottish eco-businesses
Al Gore event set to boost Scottish eco-businesses
By Charlene SweeneySCOTTISH COMPANIES are aiming to launch a new initiative to tackle climate change during former US vice-president Al Gore's visit to Glasgow this week.
Several small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are interested in using a lunch at which Gore is speaking on Tuesday to "kick-start" a process that would bring them together to collectively take action against climate change.
It is hoped that Gore, who has become a leading figure in the global warming debate since filming his award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, will endorse the new initiative during his visit.
continued...
Gore and former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix are speaking after a champagne lunch at the Hilton hotel in Glasgow. The event, What Our Future Holds: an audience with Al Gore and Hans Blix, is being organised by A&S Promotions, the Glasgow-based company that brought former president Bill Clinton to the city last year.
Raj Bedi, a partner in A&S Promotions, said: "Some of the SME businesses that will be represented at the event have told us they would like to use the event as a platform to discuss what Scottish companies can do to address climate change.
"Al Gore can educate us about his experiences, and the event will also allow us to see if we can collectively do something or work towards organising something. We are keen that all efforts are made to move the agenda forward."
One of the companies interested in establishing a business-led response to climate change is Windsave, a Glasgow-based manufacturer of mini-wind turbines aimed at homeowners. The company's products are now on sale at 330 B&Q branches across the UK, with the prospect of future international distribution.
David Gordon, Windsave's chief executive, said he would like to see an organisation established to advise companies on saving energy and maximising commercial opportunities thrown up by climate change.
He said: "Whatever initiative is agreed at the end of the day, we will support it. I think that initiative could become a body that can help businesses understand what they can do to reduce carbon emissions and help tackle climate change. There are lots of technologies that SME businesses could use, from installing wind turbines, to reinsulating their premises or using solar power.
"If there are commercial propositions about, it could also give them support about getting into the marketplace."
George Hecht, of accountancy firm 2gether Group Ltd, said the Gore event would be "a forum to kick-start the climate debate among SMEs in Scotland".
He added: "As a small business we should be guided on how to save energy - at the moment you are left to find things out for yourself because the information is not readily available."
The Scottish companies' plans come after it emerged last week that major UK firms including BA, BT and Tesco are to collaborate on tackling climate change. A taskforce being set up under the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is expected to look at carbon taxes and offsetting.
Alan Mitchell, assistant director of CBI Scotland, said the Scottish proposals show "small businesses can do their bit to protect the environment too".
Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, also welcomed the plans. "If we are to halt climate chaos then it can no longer be business as usual' - something these companies appear to understand," he said. "Instead it will require a little effort from everyone, including businesses large and small.
"The problem may be global, but by working together locally and nationally it is a problem that can be solved."
However, Green MSP Shiona Baird said there has to be more "political will and leadership" from the Scottish Executive before SMEs can make a real contribution to halting climate change.
"There are already too many pressures on businesses which stop them seizing these opportunities - even if they would like to," she said.
http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1122048.0.gore_event_set_to_boost_scottish_ecobusinesses.php
By Charlene SweeneySCOTTISH COMPANIES are aiming to launch a new initiative to tackle climate change during former US vice-president Al Gore's visit to Glasgow this week.
Several small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are interested in using a lunch at which Gore is speaking on Tuesday to "kick-start" a process that would bring them together to collectively take action against climate change.
It is hoped that Gore, who has become a leading figure in the global warming debate since filming his award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, will endorse the new initiative during his visit.
continued...
Gore and former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix are speaking after a champagne lunch at the Hilton hotel in Glasgow. The event, What Our Future Holds: an audience with Al Gore and Hans Blix, is being organised by A&S Promotions, the Glasgow-based company that brought former president Bill Clinton to the city last year.
Raj Bedi, a partner in A&S Promotions, said: "Some of the SME businesses that will be represented at the event have told us they would like to use the event as a platform to discuss what Scottish companies can do to address climate change.
"Al Gore can educate us about his experiences, and the event will also allow us to see if we can collectively do something or work towards organising something. We are keen that all efforts are made to move the agenda forward."
One of the companies interested in establishing a business-led response to climate change is Windsave, a Glasgow-based manufacturer of mini-wind turbines aimed at homeowners. The company's products are now on sale at 330 B&Q branches across the UK, with the prospect of future international distribution.
David Gordon, Windsave's chief executive, said he would like to see an organisation established to advise companies on saving energy and maximising commercial opportunities thrown up by climate change.
He said: "Whatever initiative is agreed at the end of the day, we will support it. I think that initiative could become a body that can help businesses understand what they can do to reduce carbon emissions and help tackle climate change. There are lots of technologies that SME businesses could use, from installing wind turbines, to reinsulating their premises or using solar power.
"If there are commercial propositions about, it could also give them support about getting into the marketplace."
George Hecht, of accountancy firm 2gether Group Ltd, said the Gore event would be "a forum to kick-start the climate debate among SMEs in Scotland".
He added: "As a small business we should be guided on how to save energy - at the moment you are left to find things out for yourself because the information is not readily available."
The Scottish companies' plans come after it emerged last week that major UK firms including BA, BT and Tesco are to collaborate on tackling climate change. A taskforce being set up under the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is expected to look at carbon taxes and offsetting.
Alan Mitchell, assistant director of CBI Scotland, said the Scottish proposals show "small businesses can do their bit to protect the environment too".
Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, also welcomed the plans. "If we are to halt climate chaos then it can no longer be business as usual' - something these companies appear to understand," he said. "Instead it will require a little effort from everyone, including businesses large and small.
"The problem may be global, but by working together locally and nationally it is a problem that can be solved."
However, Green MSP Shiona Baird said there has to be more "political will and leadership" from the Scottish Executive before SMEs can make a real contribution to halting climate change.
"There are already too many pressures on businesses which stop them seizing these opportunities - even if they would like to," she said.
http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1122048.0.gore_event_set_to_boost_scottish_ecobusinesses.php
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