At the mid-point of COP15, I've been reflecting on what the GE team here has been saying and what I'm hearing from others in the business community.
GE launched its Ecomagination initiative in 2005 to highlight and grow our cleaner technology portfolio and to provide an operating benefit to our customers. Sales of the Ecomagination products have grown to $17 billion in 2008, a 21 percent increase over the prior year, demonstrating there is a real demand for solutions to our environmental problems.
So, our team here has been communicating a clear message that we can grown the economy, create good jobs, improve our energy security and address the climate challenge if we get the right policy direction. In other words, we need to be focused on the opportunities side of the climate challenge.
And we're not alone.
There's been a big evolution in business thinking over the last two years. On Friday, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and Dansk Institute hosted a business day. We heard from CEOs around the world, and fairly consistently, that with the right policy, the business community is ready, willing and able to invest, innovate and deliver solutions. And, we're willing to do so because of the opportunities we're seeing.
For example, this weekend, GE announced that through the end of the third quarter GE's sales of Ecomagination products in China had grown 50 percent over 2008 third quarter levels. This kind of growth is what is capturing the attention and interest of business leaders and politicians around the world.
This technology uptick of green products and services was also on display at "Bright Green," a technology event where GE had a booth highlighting our Ecomagination products and partnerships. We were honored to have U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Laurie Fulton and the other U.S. exhibitors join us prior to the kickoff for a few remarks and for breakfast. I think everyone there was energized by the ideas on display and happy to have something to eat (most of us are eating on the fly these days).
Over the next few days, we at GE will be continuing to share our experience, which makes clear that:
On a personal level, I've been really impressed with the hospitality of the Danes. The logistics have been incredible. Getting to and from the Bella Center is a breeze, even from the city center. I've only had to take a few cabs, but every cab driver has been interested, knowledgeable and ready to help with anything.
I haven't had much time to read a newspaper or watch TV, but I gather from emails from friends at home that the demonstrations and arrests Saturday made big news. I was at virtually all the locations where the demonstrators were Saturday (the Bella Center, the Bright Green location and the shopping district). I saw lots of people with signs, banners, costumes, etc., but everyone I was around was upbeat, enthusiastic and committed.
So, as we go into the final week, I hope that attitude will continue as the heads of state arrive and we'll end up with a good result that accelerates all our hard work on Ecomagination.
Ann E. Condon has been the director and counsel for GE's environmental, health and safety programs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa since 1998.
Click here for full coverage of COP15 from the GreenBiz.com and ClimateBiz.com teams, including posts from Copenhagen by Executive Editor Joel Makower and Senior Contributor Marc Gunther, and from dozens of guest contributors from the business world.
Image courtesy of Bright Green, Confederation of Danish Industry.