Business Roundtable's 160 CEOs Join Call for Quick Action on Climate Change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Tony Kreindler, Environmental Defense, 202-572-3378 or 202-210-5791 (cell)
(
“There’s a freight train of momentum for action, and everyone is on board,” said David Yarnold, executive vice president of Environmental Defense. “Leaders from across the political spectrum and throughout the business world are now on the record – the problem is real, we can fix it, and it’s time to get started.”
The Business Roundtable, whose 160 members from every sector of the U.S. economy represent $4.5 trillion in annual revenues and more than 10 million employees, today said in a consensus Climate Change Statement that the consequences of global warming are potentially serious and far-reaching and that steps should be taken now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Business Roundtable members supporting the statement include major energy interests, including the ExxonMobil Corporation, Peabody Energy Company, and Southern Company. According to the Climate Change Statement, “Because the consequences of global warming for society and ecosystems are potentially serious and far-reaching, steps to address the risks of such warming are prudent now even while the science continues to evolve.”
The group did not endorse a specific approach to reducing emissions, but it offered a set of key policy benchmarks as Congress weighs its options. According to the Business Roundtable, policies should be effective in reducing emissions, maximize the use of markets, encourage technology solutions, be cost-effective, provide certainty to companies, and foster innovation and new business opportunities.
Environmental Defense believes the policy that best meets those benchmarks is a cap and trade system for carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Cap and trade guarantees results by putting an enforceable limit on emissions, maximizes the use of markets by creating economic incentives for pollution reductions, and fosters innovation by freeing companies to invest in the best and least-cost emissions reduction opportunities.
One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund
Latest press releases
-
EPA Clears Way for California Clean Car Standards
December 18, 2024 -
Department of Energy Study On Environmental and Economic Impacts of U.S. Natural Gas Exports Shows Urgent Need to Cut Methane Pollution
December 17, 2024 -
Permitting Solutions for a Strong, Clean and Reliable Grid Must Continue
December 16, 2024 -
Supreme Court Will Not Consider Constitutional Challenges to California Clean Vehicle
December 16, 2024 -
D.C. Circuit Hears Oral Argument in Challenges to EPA’s National Health-Based Standards for Soot
December 16, 2024 -
Supreme Court Will Not Consider Challenges to California Core Authority to Establish Clean Vehicle Standards Brought by Oil and Gas Interests
December 13, 2024