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 Order
DVD of this Briefing
Perspectives
on Climate Change: Business Initiatives to Reduce Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Thursday,
November 18, 2004
2:00-3:30 p.m., 628
Dirksen
Senate
Office
Building
The Environmental and
Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a Congressional
briefing to hear first-hand about actions being taken by
U.S.
businesses to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. There is
scientific consensus that manmade GHG emissions are contributing to
an upward trend in globally averaged mean temperature and observed
climate change impacts. A major intergovernmental report on Arctic
climate impacts was just released, and the Senate Commerce Committee
is holding a hearing on climate change November 16. In response to
climate change concerns, many businesses are reducing their GHG
emissions through increased energy efficiency, waste reduction,
improved industrial processes, fuel switching and use of renewable
energy, among others. Businesses reduce emissions and cut energy
waste by using more efficient business practices, which can improve
the bottom line. For example, according to The Climate Group, Dupont
has reduced its GHG emissions 69 percent from 1990 levels, saving $2
billion through energy efficiency measures, and IBM has reduced
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 65 percent from 1990 levels, saving
$791 million from 1990 to 2002 in the process.
Several
organizations have formed strategic partnerships to provide
information and opportunity for networking among businesses that are
taking action on GHG reductions. For example, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Climate Leaders program is a voluntary
industry-government partnership of 60 companies that encourages
development of long-term comprehensive climate change strategies and
greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. The Climate Group is
developing new tools to cultivate understanding of best practices in
GHG emission reduction, establishing an international and cross-sectoral
dialogue, and creating mechanisms to help link effective solutions
with sources of capital. The briefing panel includes:
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Nancy
Skinner,
U.S. Director of The Climate Group, former International
Director of the International Council for Local Environmental
Initiatives (ICLEI) Cities for Climate Protection
Presentation (1 MB .pdf)
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Cynthia
Cummis,
Team Leader, Climate Leaders
Program,
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
Presentation
(0.6 MB .pdf)
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Al
Forte,
Assistant Director, Environmental Affairs, Pfizer Inc.
Presentation
(0.2 MB .pdf)
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Dr.
Somadeepti Chengalur,
Director, Health, Safety, and Environment Federal Policy,
Eastman Kodak Company
Presentation (0.5 MB .pdf)
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Roger
Duncan,
Deputy General Manager, Government Affairs, Austin Energy
Services
Presentation
(1 MB .pdf)
In
addition to saving money, businesses are reducing GHG emissions to
mitigate liabilities and costs associated with potential future
regulation as well as existing GHG regulations in other countries.
While
U.S.
climate policy is currently based on voluntary measures, a recent
survey of utilities responsible for roughly 30 percent of
U.S.
power generation found that nearly 60 percent of respondents believe
Congress will enact mandatory limits on CO2 emissions within the
next ten years, and roughly half of respondents believe these limits
will come within five years.
The
briefing is open to the public and no reservations are required.
Please feel free to forward this notice. For more
information, please contact Fredric Beck at 202/662-1892 or fbeck@eesi.org.
click here for a PDF version of this announcement
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