Impala CEO David Brown

They will try to help government ensure the success of the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change - dubbed the 17th Conference of Parties (COP 17) - which takes place from November 28 to December 9 in Durban.

David Brown, CEO of Impala Holdings, who heads the forum, alongside Eskom's Brian Dames and Sasol's David Constable, said government is formulating policy on climate change and the forum hopes to have a positive influence on the process.

"As a main economic driver, business could be profoundly affected by the climate changes. This could have unintended effects on job creation and poverty alleviation. If you mention carbon tax, people tend to focus more because this involves rands and cents. So that is why we want to be part of a response to climate change threats and at the same time make sure that we don't err as we go there," he said.

Brown said the CEO forum wants to rid business of the image of saying no to policy initiatives and rather be seen as being a contributor.

"We see the need for SA to adapt to the changing climate as this will certainly be problematic to our future generations. We see a need for a strong partnership between government and business. This will ensure that as we take a step towards the promulgation of climate change legislation we make sure that business remains resilient and our input at the COP 17 recognises this," Brown said.

The COP is a set of international environmental agreements crafted at the UN's Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

One of these aims to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent man-made influence on the climate system.

Brown said the forum has held meetings with the department of environmental affairs and the department of international relations and co-operation.

"The meetings were held in good spirit. What is equally encouraging is that they are held at the minister, director general and CEO level, which strengthens the process by makng decision-making easier and faster," Brown said.

The forum is not replacing other business organisations such as Business Unity SA and the Business Leadership SA.

"We are just a loose advocacy formation of CEOs as we go to the COP 17 process. After COP 17 we will sit down again and see what happens," said Brown.