Not long ago, global warming action in Congress seemed a distant dream. Now some of the world’s largest corporations have joined Environmental Defense in calling for a firm cap on emissions, and bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate have put the issue on the fast track. Their committments have put Congress on schedule to produce a climate bill this session. What a difference a year makes.
We and our partners helped transform the political landscape in January when we initiated the United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a coalition of leading environmental groups and corporations like Alcoa, ConocoPhillips, DuPont and GE, who are urging Congress to act on global warming.“ Each new economic sector added to USCAP melts away pockets of opposition in Congress,” says Representative Rick Boucher (D-VA), chairman of the House subcommittee that will develop a climate bill.
Since January, USCAP membership has more than doubled, with companies now representing $1.9 trillion in revenue and 2.3 million employees in all 50 states. This spring GM,Ford and Chrysler joined the partnership, finally putting these significant emitters on record supporting mandatory pollution cuts.
USCAP has called for reducing emissions 60 to 80% by 2050, a level scientists say is needed to avoid dangerous climate disruption. “These are toughminded business people standing up to say they believe they will prosper by solving global warming,” notes our Climate Campaign director, Steve Cochran.
As a cofounder of USCAP, our president Fred Krupp briefed Congress with the CEOs of member companies. “When the heads of major corporations and the leaders of national environmental groups walk through the door together, that sends a very powerful message,” he says.
MORE THAN LIP SERVICE?
After months of drifting on the issue, the Senate was galvanized in June when Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) pledged to produce a strong climate bill by August. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) has promised legislation in September that cuts emissions to the levels called for by USCAP.
Several of the proposed climate bills include the USCAP principles: A cap and trade program that sets a nationwide limit on emissions while freeing businesses to find the lowest-cost ways to make the cuts.
USCAP is keeping the pressure on. "No other country bears a greater responsibility—or possesses a greater capacity—to lead the global response on this issue," says Peter A.Darbee, CEO of PG&E Corporation.
CORPORATE MEMBERS of USCAP
Alcan, Alcoa, American International Group, Boston Scientific, BP, America Caterpillar, Chrysler, ConocoPhillips, Deere & Co., Dow Chemical, Duke Energy, DuPont, Ford Motor Co., FPL Group (Florida Power & Light), General Electric, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Marsh Inc., Pacific Gas & Electric, PepsiCo, PNM Resources, Shell, Siemens
