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Corporate push for climate change. - 6/20/2008 1:08:15 PM

kittinSol

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Nearly 100 companies sign agreement urging global strategy by 2012
AP - updated 9:59 a.m. ET, Wed., Feb. 21, 2007

NEW YORK - The leaders of several worldwide corporations — including General Electric, Volvo and Air France-KLM — called Tuesday for prompt, decisive action on climate change created by the emission of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide.

Nearly 100 companies followed a meeting at Columbia University by endorsing a formal statement to fight for clean energy and against climate change caused by people and businesses. The companies are members of the Global Roundtable on Climate Change, formed in 2004 to explore issues critical to shaping public and industry policy on climate change.

"This is an issue that requires action now but will not be solved immediately," said Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, which created the Global Roundtable.

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At least, the announcement doesn't deny that climate change is partly the responsibility of private business:

quote:

The statement by the international business community seeks to lay out a framework for global action to mitigate the impact of human-made climate change without adversely affecting energy and economic growth, according to Sachs, who also spoke at the United Nations on Friday. The business leaders hoped that a permanent plan could be in place by 2012.

"Climate change is an urgent problem that requires global action ... in a time frame that minimizes the risk of serious human impact on the Earth's natural systems," the joint statement said."

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MSNBC

So, is it for real? Has big business finally woken up? Will it be in its interest to implement a 'Green Industrial Revolution' ?

Or is it all mouth and no trousers, and a pretty gesture to placate the consumers?

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RE: Corporate push for climate change. - 6/20/2008 1:15:33 PM

popeye1250

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KittinSol, but if Corporate America with all their money manages to get their new puppet Obama into the W.H. how long do you think it will take to put all that stuff on the back burner?
A week?
Two?

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RE: Corporate push for climate change. - 6/20/2008 1:37:31 PM

slaveboyforyou

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quote:

So, is it for real? Has big business finally woken up? Will it be in its interest to implement a 'Green Industrial Revolution' ?

Or is it all mouth and no trousers, and a pretty gesture to placate the consumers?

I'm a cynic, so I don't put much stock into what they are saying. Only time will tell if they mean what they say. General Electric has been placing commercials about it's environmental responsibility for a few years now (with Alec Baldwin doing the narration of all people.). Of course, GE has been cited for EPA violations many times. Volvo has a pretty good record on the environment. Alcoa has a bad record, and I am skeptical of their spokesman. I don't know anything about Air France's record.

Like I said, time will tell. If they mean it, then we should start seeing some REAL action.

< Message edited by slaveboyforyou -- 6/20/2008 1:38:19 PM >

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RE: Corporate push for climate change. - 6/20/2008 1:48:21 PM

sappatoti

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I just find it a little bit ironic that many of the world's largest corporations, arguably having the wealth to do whatever they'd like, would feel the need to band together and call for new guidelines.

Why don't they just go ahead and make their products, services, and processes greener? Quietly, behind the scenes. Why this sudden need to make this seemingly grandiose statement? Surely they can't be saying something to the effect that they need governments to create stricter environmental laws in order to reign themselves in. Can't these corporations do that themselves? Are they saying that without "Big Brother's" help they can't control themselves?

I'm calling BS on this one. I have no statistics or research to base my opinion on; only my gut reactions. There is no doubt they got together and called for tougher environmental laws. Heck, we as a CollarMe community can do that equally as well. This, in my opinion, is all about increasing market share for each one of those corporations who are in that group; the old "lookey at us and our products... we care".

Over the past year or so I have seen the product advertisements on television change to show just how environmentally friendly the products have become. Why now? Why not put those products out earlier to help prevent some of this damage from occurring. I remember the "new and greener" products out now being made available for a short time during the '70s, when we as a planet started taking environmental issues seriously. Then they faded away when the world's focus shifted away from environmental causes. Now they're back.

The General Motors EV-1 automobile is an example of that on a large scale. A fully electric vehicle that seemed to be working well enough for those who leased them. Sure, they had faults but nothing that couldn't be addressed and fixed. Then, GM recalled all of those vehicles, crushed them, and started producing gas-guzzling SUVs. Now that gasoline has again become an election year economic issue (it's always been an environmental issue for me), GM and others are at it again with new alternative vehicles. Honda's new Clarity will be out soon and, just like the EV-1, can only be had through a lease. Hmm...

Yes, it's good marketing that these corporations came together. But they didn't have to. They've always had the power to lead the way in being greener. They choose not to until it becomes profitable for them to do so, and this new accord is the perfect marketing tool for them to thump their corporate chests. It would be interesting to "follow the money trail" and see how this all plays out for their bottom lines.

Just my 2 cents US.

< Message edited by sappatoti -- 6/20/2008 1:49:11 PM >

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RE: Corporate push for climate change. - 6/20/2008 2:09:36 PM

kittinSol

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It's very much a symbolic announcement: I think the aim of the exercise is to publicise corporate interest in improving the state of the environment.

It's a start.

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RE: Corporate push for climate change. - 6/20/2008 2:18:17 PM

sappatoti

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Yes, I'll cede that point to them. It is a very public statement. Will it have an impact on policy leaders? I don't know.

Then again, in a perfect world, policy leaders shouldn't have to be called out by groups of one sort or another.

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RE: Corporate push for climate change. - 6/20/2008 2:20:44 PM

kittinSol

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quote:

ORIGINAL: sappatoti

Then again, in a perfect world, policy leaders shouldn't have to be called out by groups of one sort or another.

I couldn't agree more, but it's a fact of modern life that private companies dictate much of government policy - and now, the environment is no longer the exception. Perhaps those that govern us will start listening with a keener ear, since the private sector is telling them to.

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RE: Corporate push for climate change. - 6/20/2008 2:39:59 PM

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Wow - the establishment of a corporate religion. There must really be some money to be made in this global warming scheme beyond the simple replace every $0.10 light bulb in the US with one costing a $1.00 and creating hazardous waste in its disposal.

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RE: Corporate push for climate change. - 6/20/2008 2:53:59 PM

kdsub

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I think it’s a bunch of big business saying…

We are feeling pressure from environmentalists to be green. And with a very good chance the Democrats may take over the White House… Lets at least sound like we care about people and the environment…

BUT…

We really have no intention of doing so because we can’t compete with non-compliant industry.

But we will sound good anyway.

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RE: Corporate push for climate change. - 6/20/2008 2:57:50 PM

kittinSol

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

There must really be some money to be made in this global warming scheme beyond the simple replace every $0.10 light bulb in the US with one costing a $1.00 and creating hazardous waste in its disposal.

That should put a spring in your step.

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