Chamber Says Technology is Answer to Climate Challenges

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce today released a report that suggests a focus on long-term innovation around new forms of energy and energy technology is the best way to address climate change challenges.

"The Kyoto Protocol will simply not work," said William Kovacs, Chamber vice president of environment, energy and technology affairs. "There are few ways to control emissions of CO2 without closing businesses and stopping cars."

The Chamber's report, "Reality Check: Straight Talk About the Kyoto Protocol," examines what is wrong with the treaty, and why implementation of it is unwise. "A focus on technology is needed and has a better likelihood to achieve the reductions in global emissions that the Kyoto agreement seeks." Kovacs said.

Even if fully implemented, scientists acknowledge that the Kyoto Protocol will allow concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere to increase by almost 50 percent, because the treaty imposes reduction mandates on a few countries while leaving most of the world exempt from responsibility.

"Innovations in energy, not mandates divorced from science, will reduce CO2, without damaging the economic viability of the country," continued Kovacs. "Only with a strong economy are we going to achieve the technological advances needed to make our air cleaner."

American businesses operating in countries that have ratified the treaty will have to comply with requirements imposed by those nations. These changing circumstances, brought on by imposed regulatory mandates, will stifle investment, economic growth and technological innovation, according to the Chamber. U.S. companies have spent over $2 trillion dollars on environmental protection over the past three decades.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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05-28

Editors Note: A copy of the Chamber's report is available online.
/goto/realitycheck_kyoto