New York, N.Y., September 23, 2009 – The United States Council for International Business, which represents America’s top global companies, released the following statement today:
Quotes from USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson:
“American companies are up to the climate challenge, and indeed would benefit from lower barriers to imports of environmental technologies abroad. The U.S. and other major governments in developed and developing countries must support the private sector’s proven ability to commercialize and disseminate the fruits of innovation. Open trade is an essential part of that formula.”
“It is possible to secure global prosperity while protecting the world’s climate, but only with strong and sensible leadership from all major parties. We hope that leadership to advance economic recovery and encourage greener solutions in a mutually supportive fashion will emerge between now and December.”
We welcome the initiative of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to energize political and societal will towards a balanced, strengthened and effective global post-2012 climate agreement.
Moreover, we are encouraged by other climate change initiatives at the multilateral, regional and national levels as well as a variety of public-private partnerships and voluntary initiatives. These can help reinforce the ultimate goal of an effective, inclusive, long-term global framework governing post-2012 activities under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Working primarily through the International Chamber of Commerce, USCIB is actively seeking a global framework that will provide energy access and security, while spurring technological innovation and the deployment of climate-friendly technologies to enable us to meet the common challenge of curtailing greenhouse gas emissions. We are pleased with the remarkable degree of consensus around these key points. Clearly, business is on board and will push hard for an effective global agreement on climate.
In our view, an ambitious and effective post 2012 framework agreement should:
- Promote economic recovery, investment and employment as essential steps to respond to climate challenges, and respond to growing energy demand and lack of access to energy for development;
- Include agreements on realistic and achievable mitigation objectives by all major-emitting countries, and the means to achieve them, compatible with national priorities and circumstances, while promoting maximum international cooperation;
- Recognize the important role of markets in any cost-effective response to climate change, and enhance market-based approaches in conjunction with other policy instruments for more environmentally-sound investment;
- Work in harmony with global commercial markets, trade and investment rules, and other fundamental international frameworks, and provide appropriate institutional and enabling frameworks to enhance development and deployment of technologies to address climate change;
- Keep all energy options open, stimulate the broader use of existing energy-efficient and low-emission technologies to enable cost-effective reductions of GHG emissions, and protect intellectual property to underpin technology innovation, commerce and trade;
- Put in place concerted, global support for research and development to increase the pace of commercialization and deployment for certain technologies;
- Include a strong compliance regime, including timely and transparent reporting, and practical and effective approaches to measure, report and verify actions undertaken through national commitments;
- Address adaptation needs, particularly in vulnerable developing countries, and create frameworks and governance structures to efficiently attract the necessary resources;
- Work in concert with other critical priorities, notably energy supply and access for development, job creation, economic growth and trade liberalization.
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation. Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, including ICC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment.
Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, VP Communications, USCIB
+1 212.703.5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org
