Since my friends have started making fun of my absolutely beautiful Fiji Islands that it will sink soon, I have started supporting organizations that are helping to make people aware of climate change…afterall, we can’t afford to let paradise go under water.

BMW Group is one company that has continued the long-lasting involvement in the UN Climate Change Conferences during the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP18) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 8th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP8) that took place in Doha, Qatar.

During several events and panel sessions BMW Group emphasized its commitment to a sustainable business management, the reduction of CO2 emissions in the value chain and to the ongoing reduction of CO2 emissions of its new car fleet. Furthermore delegates of the BMW Group presented the holistic approach of the sub-brand BMW i and its visionary electric and plug-in hybrid cars, mobility services and its new understanding of individual mobility that is strongly defined by sustainability.

At an official side event of the conference held by the Climate Action Reserve and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD), BMW speakers discussed the importance of developing a systematic approach to facilitate the implementation of electric mobility. One relevant factor in this context is the integration of transportation fuels in an emission trading system. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and BMW Group have analyzed the effects of such an approach in the study CITIES

(http://www.bmwgroup.com/d/0_0_www_bmwgroup_com/forschung_entwicklung/publikationen/_pdf/cities_de.pdf).

Further activities of the BMW Group at COP 18 included panel participation at the business side event World Climate Summit 2012, a hub for key business, financier and government leaders to meet and discuss innovative green business strategies.

In addition, BMW Group presented its sustainability strategy and the political implications at the Doha Business Day, organized by WBCSD and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Since 2008, BMW Group has been a partner and stakeholder in the COP process. With this engagement, BMW Group extends the constructive dialog with key stakeholder to tackle the challenges of climate change….a noble deed indeed!