ICC

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC – also called the World Business Organization) is a non-profit, private international organization that works to promote and support global trade and economic growth. ICC promotes itself a "representative body that speaks with authority on behalf of enterprises from all sectors in every part of the world", because it is designed as a business equivalent to a major international organization with business delegates from different national committees. Founded in 1919, ICC today groups hundreds of thousands of member companies and associations from over 130 countries.

The fundamental mission of ICC is to promote trade and investment across frontiers, and to help business corporations meet the challenges and opportunities of globalization. With a conviction that trade is a powerful force for peace and prosperity, ICC works to enhance trade in a wide range of areas, from anti-corruption to Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Law.

ICCs approach to Climate Change is that there is no contradiction between economic growth, trade liberalization, environmental protection and sustainable development (stated in the ICC letter to G8 ministers in July 2008). Further, acoording to ICC, "Economic growth and open trade provide the conditions in which protection of the environment can best be achieved".

Working Method

The ICC is composed of many different commissions, one of which is "The Environment and Energy Commission." This commission consists of approximately 230 members representing some 75 multinational corporations, 33 industry associations, and 52 national ICC committees. The Commission examines major environmental and energy related policy issues of interest to world business via task forces and thematic groups. The Commission usually meets twice a year though task forces and other thematic groups may meet more frequently.