160 CEOs Sign Global Warming Pact

Business Roundtable Aims To Avert "Serious and Far-reaching" Consequences Dan Shapley / News Editor While they could not agree on the right method to achieve the goal, 160 CEOs of some of the largest companies in America agreed that global warming is a serious issue that needs to be addressed with a comprehensive, worldwide solution. The Business Roundtable released a four-page statement on climate change yesterday. "Because the consequences of global warming for society and ecosystems are potentially serious and far-reaching, steps to address the risks of such warming are prudent now even while the science continues to evolve," it reads, in part. "Business Roundtable supports collective actions that will lead to the reduction of GHG emissions on a global basis with the goal of slowing increases in GHG concentrations in the atmosphere and ultimately stabilizing them at levels that will address the risks of climate change." While it took no stance on the idea of mandatory regulations on greenhouse gas emissions -- a point on which its members could not find consensus -- the group did recommend several policies. Among them:

• Starting a national greenhouse gas inventory to encourage voluntary reductions from individual companies.
• Encouraging energy efficiency to reduce electricity use, relative to economic output (otherwise known as "energy intensity) by 25%.
• Encourage the adoption and development of new technologies that emit little or no greenhouse gases, relative to current technologies. And aligning greenhouse gas emission targets according to available technologies.
• Investing in technology research and development, and in climate science.
• Working with other countries to adopt a global solution that includes the reduction of deforestation in the tropics.

"U.S. leadership in establishing this global framework is essential," the CEOs said, in concluding their report. To read the entire report, click here.