July 23, 2007—The United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) recently announced the addition of The Chrysler Group and Ford Motor Company to its membership, which now includes 23 major corporations and six respected non-governmental organizations. The diverse group is calling for the federal government to swiftly enact legislation that includes mandatory reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
The expansion of the coalition reportedly brings the total revenues of USCAP companies to over $1.9 trillion, with a total workforce of more than 2.3 million and operations in all 50 states and around the world, and a combined market capitalization of more than $1.9 trillion. The non-governmental organizations boast a combined membership of more than two million people worldwide, and have a long history of global leadership on environmental and conservation issues.
In January, USCAP issued its solutions-based report, titled A Call for Action, laying out a blueprint for an economy-wide, market driven cap-and-trade program. The recommendations embodied in the report are based on the following six key principles:
- Account for the global dimensions of climate change;
- Recognize the importance of technology;
- Be environmentally effective;
- Create economic opportunity and advantage;
- Be fair to sectors disproportionately impacted; and
- Recognize and encourage early action.
To view USCAP Policy Statements, which offer Congress specific recommendations, or for more information about USCAP and its member companies, visit the USCAP Web site.
The coalition urges US policy makers to act quickly to slow, stop, and reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions over the shortest period of time reasonably achievable. To that end, USCAP has recommended that Congress establish short- and mid-term emission reduction targets; a national program to accelerate technology research, development and deployment; and approaches to encourage action by other countries, including the developing world.
The founding members of USCAP include Alcoa, BP America, Caterpillar, Duke Energy, DuPont, FPL Group, Inc., General Electric, PG&E, and PNM Resources, along with Environmental Defense, Natural Resources Defense Council, Pew Center on Global Climate Change, and World Resources Institute.
In May, 14 additional organizations joined the partnership: American International Group (AIG), Alcan, Boston Scientific, ConocoPhillips, Deere & Company, The Dow Chemical Company, General Motors Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Marsh, PepsiCo, Shell, and Siemens, along with The Nature Conservancy and the National Wildlife Federation.
