Juan Costa Climent Appointed Ernst & Young Global Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability Services

LONDON, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Costa Climent has today been appointed Ernst & Young's Global Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability Services, reinforcing the organization's commitment to become a leader in this field. Juan will lead a global team of more than 700 professionals in the area of climate change and sustainability across the organization's core services of Assurance, Advisory, Tax, and Transaction Advisory Services.

Juan has until now served as a Member of the Spanish Parliament and is a leading commentator on sustainable development. From 1996 to 2004 he held senior positions in the Spanish Government, including Minister for Science, Technology, and Industry, Secretary of State for Finance, and Secretary of State for International Trade and Economic Cooperation. With this appointment, Juan returns to Ernst & Young, where he began his professional career and where from 2005 to 2007 he was the leader of the tax practice in Spain. Juan has dedicated a great part of his professional career to working on sustainability and climate change issues and has recently published a book called "An Unstoppable Revolution" that looks at the benefits for the world economy of protecting the environment. He has also worked for the International Monetary Fund as an adviser.

Commenting on his new role, Juan says: "Every twenty-five years the global economy doubles in size. This rate of growth places great strain on the planet's climate and significant obligations for the business community, governments, and the general public to support sustainability initiatives. The challenges facing business are to anticipate future risks, to understand that sustainability can benefit business and the environment together, and that transparency in this area is becoming a crucial issue. I look forward to helping Ernst & Young's clients to deal with sustainability reporting requirements and helping them become a market leader in the new sustainable economy.

Jim Turley, Ernst & Young Chairman and CEO, said: "We are delighted that Juan is rejoining Ernst & Young. His experience of our business and of international public policy ensures he is well-placed to help our clients respond to new global requirements and expectations on sustainability reporting and other challenges associated with climate change. We believe there are demonstrable economic benefits if the right approach is taken".

Juan will be mainly based in London.

For more information about Ernst & Young's Climate Change and Sustainability Services please visit http://www.ey.com/climatechange

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 141,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global Ernst & Young organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

SOURCE Ernst & Young