A GROUP that runs chambers of commerce in Wiltshire and the south west joined an international effort to combat climate change.

Business West signed up along with 450 other chambers to the International Chambers of Commerce's Chambers Climate Coalition.

Director James Monk said: “Business West is a proud signatory of the Chambers Climate Coalition.

"This is proactively mobilising the chamber community to make a real difference through concrete and achievable climate action.

"We are now working with our members to explore how we can make a difference and best take action across the south west.”

The initiative, launched at the World Chambers Congress in Rio de Janeiro in June, provides a platform for chambers to visibly demonstrate their commitment to take action.

The objective is to cooperate globally and help create cleaner, more resilient and eco-friendly economies.

Business West committed to advocate for climate action within its business networks and for well-conceived policies to limit the global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Its other pledges include supporting the goal of achieving net-zero emissions globally by 2050, to push climate mitigation and resilience guidance into chamber services, and to reduce the greenhouse footprint from chamber activities as soon as possible.

The group will work with public and private entities to support effective climate solutions as part of a transformational change that works for people and planet.

The chambers' goals are aligned with the Paris Agreement’s overarching objective of “holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, recognising that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.”

Chairman of the World Chambers Federation Hamad Buamim said: “Chambers play a key role in helping businesses adapt to the challenges and opportunity of the many disruptions impacting today’s business and social landscapes."