nerdgirl 0 #1 December 2, 2007 From Forbes.com Top Businesses Demand Climate Action Excerpted text below. Couple thoughts: Does recognition by global corporation mean the climate change is about money & the new industries that could be created … or is it about survival of the species that inhabit the planet and the current free market structure? I hadn’t planned on paying much attention to the Bali meeting – might now. The potential role/impact of these globalized commercial firms on a potential international treaty/convention piqued by attention. The biotech industry was one significant (but not the only) factor in the failure of the addition of a verification protocol to the Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention (aka BWC in US); otoh, the chemical industry was a significant (but not only) factor behind the US ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Is this Freidman’s “the World is flat” hypothesis playing out or … ? VR/Marg ---- ----- ---- ---- ---- ----- “Some of the world's top business leaders are demanding that international diplomats meeting next week come up with drastic and urgent measures to cut greenhouse gas pollution at least in half by 2050. “Officials from more than 150 global companies - worth nearly $4 trillion in market capitalization - have signed a petition urging "strong, early action on climate change" when political leaders meet in Indonesia. “The hastily prepared petition drive, coordinated through the environmental office of Britain's Prince Charles,[huh? emphasis nerdgirl] is signed by leaders from mainstream powerhouse companies such as Shell UK, GE International, Coca-Cola Co., Dupont Co., United Technologies Corp., Rolls Royce, Nestle SA, Unilever, British Airways and Volkswagen AG. “The petition is aimed at the United Nations conference in Bali, convened to draft a new environmental treaty to replace the Kyoto accord, which expires in 2012. “Contrary to the argument that mandatory pollution cuts would harm the economy, the business leaders' petition says ambitious emissions reductions would "create significant business opportunities." “In the three weeks that the business leaders circulated the petition, primarily in the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States and Australia, more than 80 percent of the giant firms contacted agreed to join in, said petition coordinator Craig Bennett, of the University of Cambridge's Programme for Industry. “In January, the CEO's of 10 major U.S. companies urged President Bush to support mandatory industrial greenhouse gas emission cuts. The White House is against that policy. Since their January plea, the industry group, the United States Climate Action Partnership, has grown to include 27 of the world's largest firms. “Other companies signing the British-based petition include Nike Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Virgin Group, Barclays PLC, Gap, Nokia, Pacific Gas and Electric, and the Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corp., which runs the conservative Fox News Channel. “’There are voices that you may not normally expect to be heard on this particular issue," Barrington said. "It just shows how concerned we are about the issue.’” Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joedirt 0 #2 December 3, 2007 Quote “In January, the CEO's of 10 major U.S. companies urged President Bush to support mandatory industrial greenhouse gas emission cuts. The White House is against that policy. Since their January plea, the industry group, the United States Climate Action Partnership, has grown to include 27 of the world's largest firms If I had to bet money on it, I don't beleive CEOs of large corporations would urge the US president to do anything unless they were poised to step in and take advantage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #3 December 3, 2007 Quote Quote “In January, the CEO's of 10 major U.S. companies urged President Bush to support mandatory industrial greenhouse gas emission cuts. The White House is against that policy. Since their January plea, the industry group, the United States Climate Action Partnership, has grown to include 27 of the world's largest firms If I had to bet money on it, I don't beleive CEOs of large corporations would urge the US president to do anything unless they were poised to step in and take advantage. Sometimes good citizenship is also good business.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joedirt 0 #4 December 3, 2007 Sure, but "good citizenship" is very subjective... especially in something like this with so much political clout. The politics can create a perfect storm of sentiment, capital, and legislation for who ever can utilize it. DISCLAIMER: I will not argue about wether global warming exists, is man made, or can be fixed. I have no opinions on this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
