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Politics : The Environmentalist Thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (9898)	2/26/2007 10:26:01 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 36917

Released February 20, 2007 The Path to Climate Sustainability: A Joint Statement by the Global Roundtable on Climate Change download full statement 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