FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Merkel, Hollande join global group launched to push for carbon price

WASHINGTON, Oct 19, 2015 – Citizens’ Climate Lobby applauded the announcement of the formation of the Carbon Pricing Panel, an alliance of national, sub-national and corporate leaders that will urge countries and companies to put a price on carbon.

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde are convening the panel ahead of the Paris climate talks to underscore the importance of policies that provide the economic incentive to transition quickly to cleaner energy and transportation.

Heads of state on the panel include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, French President François Hollande, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Philippines President Benigno Aquino III, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

“There has never been a global movement to put a price on carbon at this level and with this degree of unison. It marks a turning point from the debate on the economic systems needed for low carbon growth to the implementation of policies and pricing mechanisms to deliver job s clean growth and prosperity,” World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said. The science is clear, the economics compelling and we now see political leadership emerging to take green investment to scale at a speed commensurate with the climate challenge.”

Commenting on the launch of the panel, Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s Global Strategy Director Joseph Robertson said the following:

“The announcement of this high-level Carbon Pricing Panel is a major breakthrough for economically efficient climate action. That Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande are joining President Bachelet and Prime Minister Desalegn, and others, to urge their peers to price carbon and steer the global economy toward responsible and timely decarbonization shows there is more political will than ever to counter climate disruption.

“Citizens’ Climate Lobby is working with some of these partners to build the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, a new kind of global policy venue where all partners are at the table together. That inclusive dialogue allows us to ensure policies are being designed that will not put an undue burden on poor and middle-class households and communities, and that citizens and stakeholders have a voice.

“This alliance of a core group of world leaders will advocate for smart carbon pricing, country by country, to speed climate action and build a sustainable and prosperous future economy. That is precisely what the world needs now, to strengthen the outcome of the Paris climate negotiations.”

Citizens’ Climate Lobby contacts:

Global Strategy Director Joseph Robertson: gro.y1600869903bbole1600869903tamil1600869903csnez1600869903itic@1600869903rj1600869903, 917-960-4137

Communications Director Steve Valk: gro.y1600869903bbole1600869903tamil1600869903csnez1600869903itic@1600869903klav.1600869903evets1600869903, 404-769-7461