Thirteen other companies also recently joined USCAP: American International Group (AIG), Alcan, Boston Scientific, ConocoPhillips, Deere & Company, The Dow Chemical Company, Johnson & Johnson, Marsh, PepsiCo, Shell and Siemens, along with The Nature Conservancy and the National Wildlife Federation.

With its new members, USCAP companies now have total revenues of $1.7 trillion, a collective workforce of more than 2 million and operations in all 50 states; they also have a combined market capitalization of more than $1.9 trillion. The non-governmental organizations have more than two million members worldwide.

USCAP, a partnership representing key sectors of the economy and non-government organizations, issued earlier this year a set of six principles and recommendations toward slowing, stopping and reversing the growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the shortest period of time “reasonably achievable”.

USCAP’s recommendations are based on the following 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.

The key as we see it is energy diversity—being able to offer our customers vehicles that can be powered by many different energy sources and advanced propulsion systems to help displace petroleum and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We especially applaud USCAP for recognizing the important role that technology can play in achieving an economy-wide solution.

—Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and CEO

In testimony before Congress in March Wagoner said that  GM is willing to engage in discussions on carbon constraints on the US economy—including caps on mobile source emissions—as part of a broader climate change strategy. (Earlier post.) GM says that its position is consistent with USCAP’s commitment toward an economy-wide policy and legislative framework that would include a mandatory, flexible cap-and-trade program.

Resources:

• USCAP: A Call for Action