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OVERVIEW In 1989, the oil and automotive industries and the National Association of Manufacturers created the Global Climate Coalition (GCC) to oppose mandatory actions to address global warming. In 1997, when the Senate overwhelmingly passed a resolution against ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, the industry funded a $13 million industry advertising blitz in the run-up to the vote. {Link without Title} In 1998 the '', resigned his White House post after accusations of politically-motivated tampering with scientific reports. {Link without Title} In 2002 the GCC considered its work in the US against regulation on global warming to have been so successful that it "deactivated" itself, {Link without Title} although the loss of some leading members may also have been a factor. At the same time, since 1989 many previously skeptical oil and automobile industry corporations have changed their position as the political and scientific consensus has grown, with the creation of the Kyoto Protocol and the publication of the International Panel On Climate Change 's Second and Third Assessment Report s. These corporations include major oil companies like Royal Dutch Shell , Texaco , and BP , as well as automobile manufacturers like Ford , General Motors , and DaimlerChrysler . Some of these have joined with the Pew Center On Global Climate Change , a non-profit organization aiming to support efforts to address global climate change. {Link without Title} U.S. CLIMATE ACTION PARTNERSHIP The U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) was formed in January, 2007 with the primary goal of influencing the U.S. government to regulate grenhouse gas emissions. Original members included General Electric , Alcoa , Natural Resources Defense Council , etc., but they were joined in April, 2007 by ConocoPhilips and AIG . ENERGY INDUSTRY ExxonMobil ExxonMobil has been a leading figure in the business world's position on climate change, providing substantial funding to a range of global-warming-skeptical organizations. '' Mother Jones '' counted some 40 ExxonMobil-funded organizations that "either have sought to undermine mainstream scientific findings on global climate change or have maintained affiliations with a small group of "skeptic" scientists who continue to do so." Between 2000 and 2003 these organizations received more than $8m in funding. {Link without Title} It has also had a key influence in the Bush administration's energy policy, including on the , Robert Watson . At the same time, it has for internal business reasons invested in some , with Stanford University , and other programs at institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology , Carnegie Mellon University and the International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas Research And Development Program . Some of Exxon's activities on climate change produced strong criticism from environmental groups, including reactions such as a leaflet produced by the Stop Esso Campaign , saying 'Don't buy E$', and featuring a tiger hand setting fire to the Earth. The company's carbon dioxide emissions are more than 50% higher than those of British rival BP, despite the US firm's oil and gas production being only slightly larger. {Link without Title} According to a 2004 study commissioned by Friends Of The Earth , ExxonMobil and its predecessors caused 4.7 to 5.3 percent of the world's man-made carbon dioxide emissions between 1882 and 2002. The group suggested that such studies could form the basis for eventual legal action. {Link without Title} BP BP left the Global Climate Coalition in 1997 and said that global warming was a problem that had to be dealt with, although it subsequently joined others in lobbying the Australian government not to sign the Kyoto Protocol unless the US did. In March 2002 in one of its North Sea oil fields, by pumping Carbon Dioxide into them (and thereby also increasing yields).[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1469010,00.html Throughout 2006 BP, led by their CEO Lord John Browne, has continued to take a leadership stance on climate change. It has cut its own operational emissions of CO2 by 10%. It is investing $8 billion in renewable energy over the next 10 years. And most recently is has launched a 'target zero' campaign in the UK to encourage its customers to offset their vehicle emissions when they fill up at the petrol station. BP's American division is a member of USCAP (see above). ConocoPhilips ConocoPhilips is a member of USCAP (see above). Others American Electric Power , the world's largest private producer of carbon dioxide, said in 2005 that targets for carbon reduction "represent a common-sense approach that can begin the process of lowering emissions along a gradual, cost-effective path." The company complained that "uncertainties over the cost of carbon" made it very difficult to make decisions about capital investment. {Link without Title} DuPont has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 65% since 1990, saving hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. "Give us a date, tell us how much we need to cut, give us the flexibility to meet the goals, and we'll get it done", Xcel Energy CEO Wayne Brunetti told '' Business Week '' in 2004. {Link without Title} Duke Energy , FPL Group and PG&E Corporation are a members of USCAP (see above). INSURANCE INDUSTRY In 2004 Swiss Re , the world's second largest reinsurance company, warned that the economic costs of climate-related disasters threatened to reach $150 billion a year within ten years. {Link without Title} . Their predictions came true in 2005/06 with huge losses for the Re-insurance industry due to weather related phenomena. There is debate as to whether the increased hurricane activity in the US and elsewhere is due to climate change or rather cyclical norms. But for the world's largest re-insurers such as Swiss Re and Munich Re they know that climate change is a huge threat to their businesses - affecting the predictability and stability on which they rely - and that what has started to happen, largely due to warmer seas (especially in the Gulf of Mexico) is mirroring their predictions worryingly. In 2006 Lloyd's Of London , published a report "Climate Change - Adapt or Bust" highlighting the latest science and implications for the insurance industry AIG is a member of USCAP (see above). MEDIA In the UK, some newspapers ('' to make his climate change presentation at the annual News Corp (including the Fox Network) gathering at the Pebble Beach golf resort, (USA). {Link without Title} MORE ON BUSINESS ACTION Businesses take action on climate change for several reasons. Action improves corporate image and better aligns corporate actions with the environmental interests of owners, employees, suppliers, and customers. Action also occurs to reduce costs, increase return on investments, and to reduce dependency on uncontrollable costs. Increased energy efficiency For many companies, looking at more Efficient Energy Use can pay off in the medium to long term; unfortunately, shareholders need to be satisfied in the short term, so regulatory intervention is often required, to encourage prudent conservation measures. However, as carbon intensity starts to show up on balance books through organizations such as the Carbon Disclosure Project , voluntary action is starting to take place. Recently there has been a spate of companies acting to improve their energy efficiency. Possibly the most prominent of these companies is Wal-Mart . Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the US, has announced specific environmental goals to reduce energy use in its stores and pressure its 60,000 suppliers in its worldwide supply chain to follow its lead. On energy efficiency, Wal-Mart wants to increase the fuel efficiency of its truck fleet by 25% over the next three years and double it within ten years, moving from 6.5 mpg. This seems an attainable goal, and by 2020, it is expected to save the company $494 million a year. The company also wants to build a store that is at least 25% more energy efficient within four years. Use of renewable energies In August 2002, the largest gathering of ministers in the history of the world met at the World Summit on Sustainable Development WSSD in Johannesburg. The global environmental community discussed the role of renewables and energy efficiency in lowering carbon emissions, mitigating poverty reduction (energy access) and improving energy security. One result from WSSD was the formation of Partnerships for Sustainable Development to carry forward the international dialogue on sustainable energy and its role in the energy mix. Partnerships formed include the Renewable Energy And Energy Efficiency Partnership REEEP , the Global Village Energy Partnership GVEP , the Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition (JREC), and the Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development GNESD . Renewable energies and renewable energy technologies have many advantages over their fossil fuel counterparts. These advantages include the absence of local pollution such as particulates, sulphur oxides (SOX's) and nitrous oxides (NOX's). For the business community, the economic advantages are also becoming clearer. Numerous studies have shown that the working environment has a significant effect on workforce morale. Renewable energy solutions are a part of this, wind turbines in particular being seen by many as a potent symbol of a new modernity, where environmental considerations are taken seriously. A workforce seeing a forward-looking and responsible company is more likely to feel good about working for such a company. A happier workforce is a more productive workforce. More directly, the high oil and gas prices of 2005 have only added to the attraction of renewable energy sources. Although most renewable energies are more expensive at current fuel prices, the difference is narrowing, and uncertainty in oil and gas markets is a factor worth considering for highly energy-intensive businesses. Another factor affecting the uptake of renewable energies in Europe is the EU Energy Trading Scheme (ETS or EUTS). Many large businesses are fined for increases in emissions, but can sell any "excess" reductions they make. Companies with high-profile renewable energy portfolios include an aluminium smelter ( Alcan ), a cement company ( Lafarge ), and a microchip manufacturer ( Intel ). Many examples of corporate leadership in this area can be found on the website of The Climate Group , an independent organization set up for promoting such action by business and government. Carbon offsets The principle of article of this encyclopedia. Many businesses are now looking to carbon offset all their work. An example of a business going carbon neutral is , the consumer staples manufacturer Annie's Homegrown , world leading society publisher Blackwell Publishing , and the publishing house New Society Publishers . The Guardian newspaper also offsets its carbon emissions resulting from international air travel. Green Office Standards An agreed upon set of standards has not been adopted for the environmentally friendly management of non-manufacturing businesses. A Wiki called TurnLeaf was created for the community development of such standards. REFERENCES
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