Newt sees the handwriting on the wall. Politicians who want to be in the game need to have a global warming strategy, or else let the likes of iGore monopolize the playing field. I say "bully" for Newt.
The theory of human-induced global warming is gaining wider acceptance, despite the objections frequently brought up on forums such as this thread. Major news came out today that ConocoPhillips now supports emission caps...
ConocoPhillips Supports Mandatory National Framework to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
biz.yahoo.com
Wednesday April 11, 7:00 am ET
Company joins business-environmental USCAP group
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - News) today announced its support for a mandatory national framework to address greenhouse gas emissions and has joined the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a business-environmental leadership group dedicated to the quick enactment of strong national legislation to require significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
"We recognize that human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that can lead to adverse changes in global climate," said Jim Mulva, chairman and chief executive officer. "While we believe no one entity can alone address the environmental, economic and technological issues inherent in any solution, ConocoPhillips will show leadership in finding pragmatic and sustainable solutions.
"In addition to taking actions in our own businesses, we believe it is important that business should step forward to help devise practical, equitable and cost-effective approaches to address the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at both a national and international level. To that end, we have joined USCAP in support of the development of a mandatory national regulatory framework to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions. Further, we believe that a mandatory national framework that links to international programs is most likely to achieve meaningful impact on global greenhouse gas emissions."
Mulva continued, "Any such framework should be transparent, clearly communicate the cost of carbon to consumers, be structured to avoid increasing the volatility of energy prices, and encourage energy efficiency. It also should be paced to match the speed at which technology can be developed and deployed, in order to avoid undue impact on the economy including any impact on the number and location of jobs. The most likely and prudent approach will result in a slow, stop, reverse pattern."
ConocoPhillips has begun addressing the environmental, technological and economic impact of greenhouse gases and other emissions in its own operations. For example, the company is building the potential long-term cost of carbon into its capital spending plans for each of its major projects around the world and improving energy efficiency in its facilities, including a 10 percent improvement in energy efficiency at its U.S. refineries by 2012. In addition, the company is developing internal targets for greenhouse gas emissions from its operations.
"Meeting the twin challenges of taking action on climate change and providing adequate and reliable supplies of energy will require technical innovation, resource commitments and responsible stewardship by energy producers and consumers alike," said Mulva. "ConocoPhillips intends to meet these challenges." |
