Released February 20, 2007
The Path to Climate Sustainability:
A Joint Statement by the Global Roundtable on Climate Change
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Statement Executive Summary
Climate change is an urgent problem requiring global action to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs). Energy use is vital for a modern economy. Burning fossil fuels produces CO2. Thus, confronting climate change depends, in many ways, on adopting new and sustainable energy strategies that can meet growing global energy needs while allowing for the stabilization of atmospheric CO2 concentrations at safe levels.
Energy efficiency must play an important role in these strategies, but long-term success will require a concerted effort to de-carbonize the global energy system. This means significantly increasing the use of non-fossil-fuel energy sources, significantly raising the energy efficiency of fossil-fuel power plants through advanced technologies, and developing and deploying technologies that trap and store the CO2 produced by the fossil fuels that will remain in use.
Cost-efficient technologies exist today, and others could be developed and deployed, to improve energy efficiency and to help reduce emissions of CO2 and other GHGs in major sectors of the global economy. Research indicates that heading off the very dangerous risks associated with doubling pre-industrial atmospheric concentrations of CO2, while an immense challenge, can be achieved at a reasonable cost.
Failing to act now would lead to far higher economic and environmental costs and greater risk of irreversible impacts. To meet this challenge and take advantage of these opportunities:
The world's governments should set scientifically informed targets, including an ambitious but achievable interim, mid-century target for global CO2 concentrations, for "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system," in accordance with the stated objective of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
All countries should be party to this accord, which should include specific near- and long-term commitments for action in pursuit of the agreed targets. Commitments for actions by individual countries should reflect differences in levels of economic development and GHG emission patterns and the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities.
Clear, efficient mechanisms should be established to place a market price on carbon emissions that is reasonably consistent worldwide and across sectors in order to reward efficiency and emission avoidance, encourage innovation, and maintain a level playing field among possible technological options.
Government policy initiatives should address energy efficiency and de-carbonization in all sectors, allow businesses to choose among a range of options as they strive to minimize GHG emissions and costs, encourage the development and rapid deployment of low-emitting and zero-emitting energy and transportation technologies, and provide incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation and harmful land management practices.
Governments, the private sector, trade unions, and other sectors of civil society should undertake efforts to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change, since climate change will occur even in the context of highly effective mitigation efforts.
Signatories to this statement will support scientific processes including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); work to increase public awareness of climate change risks and solutions; report information on their GHG emissions; engage in GHG emissions mitigation, which can include emissions trading schemes; champion demonstration projects; and support public policy efforts to mitigate climate change and its impacts.
earthinstitute.columbia.edu
Roundtable Participants ...it's a done deal, boys.
Senior officials from the following corporations, governments and institutions have participated in recent meetings of the Roundtable. Please note that not all individuals participate as formal representatives of their corporation or institution. In addition, experts and observers from universities, research institutions and government agencies also participate in individual meetings or Roundtable Working Groups. Participation in the Roundtable is by invitation only.
AIG
Air France
Alcan
Alcoa
All China Federation of Industry and Commerce
Alliant Energy
Allianz
American Association of Blacks in Energy
American Council on Renewable Energy
American Electric Power
Anglo-American
Aristeia Capital
Association of British Insurers
BASF Group
Bayer
Business Leaders Group on Climate Change
California Clean Energy Fund
Calvert Group
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
Canadian Electricity Association
Center for Health and the Global Environment, Harvard Medical School
Ceres
Chicago Climate Exchange
China Renewable Energy Industries Association
Citigroup
City of Reykjavík
The Climate Group
The Climate Institute
The Climate Trust
Coalition for Rainforest Nations
Columbia University
Confederation of Indian Industry
Conservation International
Covanta Energy
Credit Suisse First Boston
Deutsche Telekom
Dow Chemical
Dupont
Earth Institute at Columbia University
EcoSecurities
Electricité de France International North America
Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
Endesa SA
Energetech Australia
Energy Holding Romania
Eni, SpA
Environmental Defense
Eskom
ETG International
European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts
European Commission Delegation to the United Nation
Exelon Corporation
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
FirstEnergy Corporation
Florida Power and Light
Ford Motor Company
General Electric
German Electricity Association
Glitnir Bank
Global Energy Network Institute
Global Environment Facility
Goldman Sachs & Co.
Google
HDR Engineering
Henkel KGaA
Iberdrola, S.A
Iceland GeoSurvey (ISOR)
ICF International
Indian Merchants Chamber
ING Group
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
Institute of Process Engineering, ETH Zurich
Insurance Information Institute
Interface, Inc.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
International Chamber of Commerce
International Council on Mining and Metals
International Energy Agency
International Gas Union
International Research Institute for Climate and Society
International Trade Union Confederation
JPMorgan Chase
Keyspan Corporation
Landsvirkjun (The National Power Company of Iceland)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lenfest Foundation
Los Alamos National Laboratories
Marsh and McLennan Cos.
MEDIAS-France
MissionPoint Capital Partners
Munich Climate Insurance Initiative
Munich Re
Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
National Commission on Energy Policy
National Development and Reform Commission of China: National Coordination Committee on Climate Change and Energy Research Institute
National Energy Assistance Directors Association
National Council of Churches
National Grid
Natsource
Natural Resources Defense Council
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
NGEN
Nippon Mining Holdings
NiSource
Norsk Hydro
NRG Energy
OECD Environment Directorate
Old Harbor Outfitters
Papua New Guinea, Office of the Prime Minister
Pew Center on Global Climate Change
Princeton University
Rainforest Alliance
Recycled Energy Development
Republic of Iceland, Office of the President
Resources for the Future
Reykjavik Energy
Ricoh Corporation
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Rolls-Royce
Office of U.S. Senator Olympia J Snowe
Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS)
State Street Global Advisors
Stanford University
StoraEnso North America
Suncor Energy
Suntech Power
Swiss Re
Tata Power
Toyota Motor North America
Underground Coal Gasification Partnership
Union of Concerned Scientists
United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Environment Programme- Finance Initiative
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat
United States Combined Heat and Power Association
University of Iceland
University of Tokyo
U.S. Geothermal
U.S. Green Building Council
U.S. Renewables Group
Vattenfall
Verde Venture Partners
Volvo
Vulcan, Inc.
Walmart
Western Governors’ Association
World Business Council on Sustainable Development
World Coal Institute
World Council of Churches
World Liquid Petroleum Gas Association
World Petroleum Council
World Wildlife Fund
Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Energy and Environment
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