Corporate cash needed for climate fight

Ian Kiernan, the Australian founder and chairman of Clean Up the World, was speaking ahead of this weekend’s Clean Up the World Weekend (September 14-16).

He said: “Tackling the crisis of climate change requires the hard work of communities, visionary political will on the part of governments, and the resource might of the corporate world.

“We all have a responsibility to act to protect generations now and in the future. The global challenge of climate change requires that we ask no less of our leaders, or ourselves.”

The Clean Up campaign started in 1989 after Mr Kiernan took part in a solo round-the-world yacht race.

Appalled by the amount of rubbish he came across while sailing, he organised a clean up of the Sydney Harbour.

Some 40,000 volunteers removed rusted car bodies, plastics, glass bottles and cigarette butts from the water.

The campaign won the support of the United Nations Environment Programme and in 1993 became a global initiative to inspire communities to improve their environment and limit the impact of climate change.

Today some 35 million volunteers in more than 120 countries, from community groups to national campaigns, take part in a range of environmental projects.

This month’s 15th Clean Up the World weekend is the highlight of the year.

Major companies involved in the campaign include National Geographic Channels International, Qantas and Marriott International.

Mr Kiernan said they show the corporate world what it takes to be socially responsible businesses.

For more about the campaign visit website www.cleanuptheworld.org

David Gibbs