I've listened carefully to the discussions of the past two days and tried to formulate these remarks as late as possible. Let me suggest four concrete action points which reflect Commissioner Andor's commitment to what he called 'a new and modern EU CSR policy framework'.

Crises are normal and of all times: they are always generally unexpected, with the next one quite different from the previous one (as we have put the breaks and stress-tests in place to prevent the previous one from occurring again), and more difficult to contain, manage and resolve. What the current crisis has taught us is how interdependent the world has become;

In the Danish fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, an Emperor goes out among his subjects in his underwear. Two swindlers posing as tailors have convinced him he’s wearing a suit made from cloth that’s invisible to anyone who is stupid.  Not wanting to accept that he’s stupid, the Emperor parades through his empire believing he’s fully dressed.It now is up to the U.S. Senate to make sure Uncle Sam is not only fully dressed, but dressed for success when he shows up in Copenhagen Dec. 7 to work on a global climate deal. Access the whole article at:  http://www.forceforgood.com/Articles/Dressing-for-Copenhagen-436/1.aspx

(Washington, February 9, 2009) – Over 50 of the world’s leading scientists, China experts, political and business leaders recommend immediate action to create a new, groundbreaking collaboration with China to address the urgent issue of climate change.  In a report released today by Asia Society’s Center on U.S.-China Relations and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, these leading figures provide the Obama administration a new policy roadmap for immediate action with China.

We manage what we measure (and report) - it's a truism, but no less valid for that.  We believe that the time is now right to ask whether we have been measuring the right things in the right way and communicating them appropriately to the right people.