February 21, 2007

Bayer, Citigroup, GE Among Companies That Back ‘De-Carbonization’ Plan

A group of companies and organizations from around the world, including Allianz, Bayer, Citigroup, DuPont, General Electric, and Volvo have endorsed a post-Kyoto framework for affecting change at the levels of policy and industry, particularly in regard to creating sustainable energy systems necessary for achieving economic growth.

The Path to Climate Sustainability: A Joint Statement by the Global Roundtable on Climate Change (PDF Summary) (PDF Full Statement) calls on governments to set scientifically informed targets for greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emissions. The agreement also urges governments to place a price on carbon emissions and to set forth policies aimed at addressing energy efficiency and de-carbonization in all sectors. Calling climate change “an urgent problem,” the statement lays out a proactive framework for global action to mitigate risks and impacts while also meeting the global need for energy, economic growth and sustainable development. It outlines technologies that exist today and others that could be developed and deployed to improve energy efficiency and help reduce CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases in major sectors of the global economy.

Senator Olympia Snowe from Maine, plans to present the joint statement to Congress as a possible point of action on curbing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The group says that the ability of so many key stakeholders with such diverse views to agree upon the joint statement demonstrates the possibility of fostering a global consensus on a positive, proactive approach to meeting the challenge of global climate change. The signatories include Air France, Alcoa, Allianz, American Electric Power, Bayer, China Renewable Energy Industry Association, Citigroup, DuPont, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, ENDESA, Eni, Eskom, FPL Group, General Electric, Iberdrola, ING, Interface, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Munich Re, NRG Energy, Patagonia, Ricoh, Rolls Royce, Stora Enso North America, Suntech Power, Swiss Re, Vattenfall, Volvo, World Council of Churches, World Petroleum Council, and many others.

“Global businesses are assuming their just place as catalysts for action on climate change. But action by business alone is not enough,” said Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman and CEO of General Electric. “While we believe that applying technology against problems will create positive business opportunities that can result in positive change, national, state and local governments, academia and other non-governmental organizations must step forward with equal force. The Global Roundtable is an excellent venue focused on such a positive, proactive approach.” 

The group is asking individuals to get involved too, and has launched a Website, Next Generation Earth, based on elements of the Roundtable’s joint statement.

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