The Confederation of British Industry would be the first to admit it has an image problem, writes our new Business Blogger Neil Thomas.

I suspect large sections of the British public perceive it as a mouthpiece for fat cat bosses and a tool for grinding down the workers.

Many, I imagine, dismiss it as an organisation with a huge vested interest in furthering the lifestyles of a few well-heeled company directors ­ and an interest in not a lot else.

“The politics of Œbottom line accounting” just about sums it up, with an inbred antipathy towards unions and an innate suspicion of anything which improves the common lot, like the national minimum wage.

So this week’s CBI Climate Change Task Force report may surprise a few people. Even the CBI itself describes it as Œground-breaking.

For here are today’s industry leaders not only showing concern for people other than themselves but, to a large extent, for those as yet unborn.

The report pledges that British businesses are committed to do what it takes to tackle climate change. It says the UK effort will only succeed if it becomes an urgent, shared national priority for companies, consumers and the government.

For the first time, senior representatives from every major sector of British business have come together to assess the challenges posed by climate change and to identify the actions to tackle them.

The report is the culmination of 10 months’ intensive work by 18 chairmen and chief executives from some of the UK’s biggest companies, under the independent chairmanship of BT Chief Executive Ben Verwaayen.

Climate change is the biggest single challenge facing this planet. If we don’t start to tackle it now, if global warming is allowed to continue unchecked and the emission of carbon gases is unabated, then eventually there won’t be a planet and all other worries will be immaterial.

The CBI is embracing this stark reality and all power to it. Analysis developed specifically for the report by consultants McKinsey shows the UK’s carbon reduction targets for 2020 are likely to be missed but that 2050 goals can be achieved at a manageable cost, provided a greater sense of urgency is now adopted.

It identifies priority areas for action that would put the UK back on track to meet its targets by 2030. The report explains how business will play its part, and commits the CBI to continue to play a leading role, both nationally and internationally.

The CBI’s West Midlands Regional Director Chris Clifford says: “The challenge of climate change is one every company must take seriously. In the West Midlands we are determined to play our part and many key local businesses are already well advanced in their efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

“There’s a long difficult journey ahead but businesses across the region, big and small, will be working hard to make a real difference. Climate change also presents real opportunities for West Midlands businesses to pioneer eco-friendly products and technologies.”

Richard Lambert, CBI Director-General, adds: “This report makes clear that in the future, businesses will have to be green to grow.”

This is fantastic stuff. The men in grey suits are pointing the way to a greener future. And they are already putting their money where their mouth is.

The CBI report was launched regionally at Tesco’s in Shrewsbury, a new state of the art environment store which boasts a 60 per cent lower carbon footprint than the average superstore.

Opened in April, the Tesco Extra’s in-built features include a rainwater collection system and solar panels. It was built using timber from sustainable sources and makes maximum use of natural light. The refridgeration system uses natural refridgerants while the heating system employs geothermal technology.

The feedback from customers to Tesco’s efforts has been fantastic, according to store manager Chris Oldfield, who adds that it is a “brilliant place to work in”.

He says: “Our trading figures are even better than expected, which proves once and for all that you can go green and still do a great job for customers and shareholders alike.”

It is uplifting stuff. The CBI is right to say that no one group can fight this fight alone. We are all involved but industry’s leaders have stood up to be counted. The cause is no less than to ensure the future of the planet.

They have pledged action to one day provide a healthier world in the sure and certain knowledge that they won’t be around to reap the benefits.

A few people might be re-assessing their opinion of the CBI today.