European Business Leaders: Protecting Environment Top Political Priority

February 19, 2007

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

European business leaders think that protecting the environment should be the number one priority for global political leaders, placing this policy area ahead of sustaining economic growth or securing future energy supplies, according to the UPS Europe Business Monitor. When asked which issues should be the highest on global political leaders’ list of priorities, 45 percent of Europe’s top business executives agreed on environmental protection, followed by 40 percent mentioning sustaining economic growth.

Addressing environmental concerns received overwhelming support from managers in France (64 percent), where the issue registered 19 points more than the European average. At the other end of the scale, respondents in the Netherlands (28 percent) are the least likely to prioritise environmental protection. Instead, with 48 percent, business leaders there prioritise sustaining economic growth, also top priority for business leaders in Spain (47 percent).

Managers in Germany were the only ones to rank energy security as the foremost global political issue (43 percent). And, although energy security came third on the list of global priorities for Europe’s business leaders overall (33 percent), it is ranked similarly to reducing world poverty (32 percent), reducing wars and global conflicts, fighting terrorism (both at 31 percent) and promoting education (29 percent).

In line with their concern for protecting the environment, Europe’s business leaders dismiss fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy, with six in ten respondents (59 percent) stating that the continent should stake its future on sources such as wind, hydrogen and solar power. Domestically generated nuclear power is seen as the next best solution, earning the support of a third (32 percent). A mere three percent thought Europe should continue burning domestic fossil fuels. Only four percent and one percent respectively bank on Russian natural gas and Middle Eastern oil to guarantee their future energy supplies.

Business leaders in Spain are the biggest supporters of renewable energy in Europe, with 68 percent there backing the idea. It was also the most popular choice for UK respondents at 47 percent, however this was the lowest figure out of all seven countries surveyed. Senior executives in Belgium are the most likely in Europe (41 percent) to consider domestic nuclear energy the best solution whereas only 22 percent of managers in Germany support this option, the lowest level registered in Europe.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader