U.S. Chamber Engages in Copenhagen Business Day to Offer Realistic Goals for Addressing Climate Change

'It will be up to businesses to implement whatever emerges from the meetings,' Eule Says

WASHINGTON, D.C. —With climate change negotiations continuing in Copenhagen, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy will continue pushing for a strong international framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during today's Copenhagen Business Day.

"The business community supports an ambitious, achievable, and global approach to addressing climate change in Copenhagen and beyond," said Stephen D. Eule, vice president for Climate and Technology at the Energy Institute, who is attending today's meeting. "Because it will be up to businesses to implement whatever emerges from the meetings, governments should recognize and embrace business engagement and expertise as the negotiations unfold."

The day-long conference will feature remarks by Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, focusing on what business is already doing and what it will need to do to transition to a low-carbon economy. This weekend, Eule will participate in the Bright Green Expo where more than 170 of the world's leading companies will be displaying cutting-edge technologies.

The U.S. Chamber's message to negotiators is that businesses are committed to continuing to improve their environmental stewardship to address climate change by developing pioneering technologies, improving efficiency and building a 21st century energy economy, but caution that any agreement must not undermine economic competitiveness or shed jobs.

Through meetings with global business groups, government negotiators, and other key advocates, Eule is urging international action that recognizes growing energy needs; sets realistic goals; ensures participation from developed and developing nations; promotes the advancement and trade of clean energy technologies and services; protects intellectual property; and builds stronger economies.

Eule will also participate in a meeting on Tuesday hosted by the Confederation of Danish Industries and Business Europe, which follows up on this fall's Major Economies Business Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change – held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. Major business organizations from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Europe, India, Japan, Kenya, and the United States met to define business goals for future negotiations and issued a joint declaration on business objectives for Copenhagen at their meeting in Washington, DC in September.

To shed light on the unprecedented transformation that the global community faces in reducing emissions, the Energy Institute also released a policy paper last month titled "The Prospects for Copenhagen: More Realism Can Smooth the Way."

Through its Institute for 21st Century Energy, Global Intellectual Property Center, and International Division, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been actively raising awareness of the business community's views for an achievable international climate change agreement.

The mission of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy is to unify policymakers, regulators, business leaders, and the American public behind a common sense energy strategy to help keep America secure, prosperous, and clean. Through policy development, education, and advocacy, the Institute is building support for meaningful action at the local, state, national, and international levels.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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