The Business Roundtable, a group of 160 executives representing U.S. companies from a wide range of industries, released a policy statement Tuesday on climate change. The four-page report acknowledged that global warming is a “potentially serious and far-reaching” issue and that humans were partly to blame for the increases in greenhouse gas emissions.
The report emphasized improving production efficiency, supporting a 25 percent reduction in energy intensity. The statement also called for a better reporting mechanism for documenting emissions and progress in reductions.
Policy tools such as carbon taxes and cap-and-trade programs, which determine the level of emissions a company is allowed to release, were mentioned as possible solutions.
There has to be a combination of incentives and regulations, so that the overall objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions can be reached “in a way that we can continue economic growth and job creation,” Business Roundtable President John J. Castellani told The Examiner.
More resources should be devoted to researching global warming and training new scientists and engineers, according to the group.
The U.S. government should also work to persuade other countries, such as China, Brazil, and India, to reduce their emissions. Other countries lack commitment, one of the reasons the Kyoto Protocol was “not a workable solution,” Castellani said.
Metro-area corporations that are members of the Business Roundtable include the Constellation Energy Group Inc., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Gannett Co., Norfolk Southern Corp., Sprint Nextel Corp., and Verizon Communications Inc.
Some of these companies have environmental initiatives of their own. Verizon is testing 13 hybrid service vans, according to spokesperson Christy Reap. Also, some of Verizon’s offices use alternative energy resources such as micro turbine engines powered by natural gas; Hypalon membrane roofs, which improve insulation; and fuel cells.
Sprint Nextel uses wind power for one of its offices and hydrogen fuel-cell technology as one backup power source for its network, spokesperson Lisa Zimmerman-Mott said.
