Vattenfall’s energy production carbon neutral by 2050

Stockholm - Vattenfall claims to have become the first major energy company in the world to present a plan for achieving CO2 neutral power generation. “Our vision is that our power production will be carbon neutral by 2050”, said president and CEO, Lars Josefsson, at the inauguration of the climate signature initiative in Brussels.

“We have earlier declared our intention to substantially reduce our emissions by 2030. Now we are stretching our ambition further, to be carbon neutral by 2050”, he continued. “We have already done one third of the reduction. We will do another third until 2030, and the final third will be completed 2050. This vision means that we will be ahead of our competitors and the requirements set by society.”

At the same press conference Vattenfall inaugurated its Climate Signature initiative. The manifesto identifies three crucial points to combat climate change:

1. We need a global price on CO2 emissions. Reduced emissions must create value.
2. We need more support for climate-friendly technologies. Technology push can really make a difference.
3. We need to implement climate requirements for products. Release the power of the consumer by providing information and holding products to higher standards.

For every signature Vattenfall receives, a unique recyclable figurine will be manufactured to represent the individual. All these figurines will then travel to places where decision makers meet, and their ultimate destination is the UN climate summit in Poznan at the end of 2008. The figurines will also visit Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Sweden.

“The initiative encourages people to sign a manifesto urging decision makers to set the rules in a way leading in the right direction. We need substantial change and tough political decisions in order to actually reach the turning point needed”, said Josefsson.  “Every signature will be a brick to build the foundation needed to combat climate change”