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Today is Blog Action Day. The issue being written about and discussed around the planet is Climate Change. We have asked one of our Pinnacle Worldwide partners, Jonathan Wootliff, who has spent his life immersed in corporate responsibility and climate change issues to write a guest blog post. Thanks much Jonathan!

The heat’s now on corporations to address the growing challenge of global warming.

With less than 50 days to the international climate change summit in Copenhagen, the issue is increasingly making headlines.  As consumer and other stakeholders’ concerns grow, there are heightened expectations of business to help fix the problem.

Crop failures, coastal erosion, extinction of endangered species, lack of fresh drinking water and severe economic effects are just some of the dire consequences predicted by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Without doubt, this is The Issue of the Century. And it’s got to be the most sizzling corporate affairs topic.

President Obama says global warming is an urgent threat, and wants the US to lead in confronting the climate crisis.  A key condition of GM’s bail-out is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its products.  The Environmental Protection Agency is reaching out to companies through its Climate Leaders program to encourage the development of comprehensive climate change strategies.

As the American Clean Energy and Security Bill makes its way to the Senate, the big question is what does all this mean for business?

What impact do companies have on climate change?  What steps are they taking to reduce their carbon footprint?  Are they contributing to the problem or to the solutions?

This is clear public affairs territory.

As a former Greenpeace Director, I know it’s the ideal time for me to start a new Corporate Accountability practice at specialist issues management firm, Reputation Partners.
Credibility of environmental activists is riding high, andthey’re sharpening their focus on corporations.  Business must find ways to work with civil society.  Corporations need smart strategies like never before.

It’s a perfect storm for our profession.  And it’s a perfect opportunity for brilliant businesses brains.

I’ll put money on Obama dropping in on the Copenhagen summit as he flies in to neighboring Oslo to collect his Nobel Peace Prize in December.  That will give yet more air time to this burning issue.

Corporations must be prepared.  I look forward to exchanging ideas with fellow professionals as to how we can give the best advice to ensure that business is seen as climate hero, and not the villain.

by Jonathan Wootliff, Head of Corporate Accountability, Reputation Partners

jonathan@reputationpartners.com