United States Council fot International Business. 

Founded in 1945 to promote an open world trading system, now among the premier pro-trade, pro-market liberalization organizations 
An active membership base of over 300 multinational companies, law firms and business associations· Provides unparalleled access to international policy makers and regulatory authorities 
Over 50 specialized policy committees and working groups U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD and the International Organization of Employers 

members: IBM; AT&T, Chevron, Shell, Coca-Cola, Texaco, Boeing, Lockheed, Exxon,...


www.uscib.org/



letter from the uscib to Bush(11-4-2001) 


April 11, 2001 
The Honorable George W. Bush 
President of the United States of America 
The White House 
Washington, DC 20500 

Dear Mr. President: 

We welcome your Administration's timely initiative to conduct a formal interagency review of energy and climate change policies, in light of the resumption in July of negotiations under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol. We share your concern over the risks of climate change, and believe that the U.S. should move quickly to chart a farsighted path forward within the UNFCCC process that will avoid the Kyoto Protocol's unrealistic targets, timetables and lack of developing country participation. 

We continue to support U.S. engagement in the UNFCCC process to demonstrate leadership by refocusing on the UNFCCC principles in order to devise a better way forward. Countries around the world are in the process of developing responses to climate change, and U.S. companies will be facing these measures. We therefore believe that developing an environmentally and economically sound U.S. government position that is action-oriented and reflects bottom line issues of domestic energy policy, competitiveness, trade, investment and technological innovation is of utmost importance in preparation for July's resumption of negotiations, formally known as the 6th Conference of the Parties (COP6 bis). 

USCIB works to promote an open system of world trade, finance and investment in which business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare and protection of the environment. Representing some 300 U.S. companies, professional services firms and associations, it is the American affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce, the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD and the International Organization of Employers. USCIB's Environment Committee and its Subcommittee on Climate Change work actively to communicate business views on climate questions to the U.S. Government, international organizations and foreign business communities. 

USCIB believes that addressing the climate challenge will depend on a fully engaged business response on domestic and international fronts. U.S. businesses have already taken significant actions to reduce the potential climate impacts of their products and processes. To gain truly effective business participation, an inclusive economically efficient international framework, as well as balanced and reasonable domestic programs, should be developed with business as a partner. In the attached document, we propose elements of such a framework. 

This international action-plan should focus on the long-term development, commercialization and global diffusion of advanced energy, carbon sequestration and adaptation technologies. It should take full advantage of appropriate and effective market incentives and mechanisms, rather than rigid, mandated caps, targets, timetables and command and control regulations. It should be flexible to respond to evolving science and technology. 

We are well aware that launching such a process at COP6 bis will be challenging. Yet in spite of this, COP6 bis offers an opportunity to promote truly effective international cooperation to address the long-term greenhouse gas emissions challenge with minimal economic hardship, competitiveness concerns, trade tensions and higher energy costs. To do so, the Administration should: 

consult with and involve government, academic, scientific, business and NGO experts with commercial, trade, investment, environmental, carbon sequestration and land-use expertise; continue to work closely with "umbrella group" countries and other cooperative nations; and consult and work with other cooperative Annex I countries. 

USCIB is prepared to support your Administration's leadership and efforts to achieve a realistic, cost-effective solution to the climate change issue. USCIB members look forward to working with you and your Administration on both a long-term strategy and the immediate actions to ensure the success of that strategy. 

Sincerely, 

Thomas M.T. Niles 
President 

Cc: 
The Honorable Colin Powell 
The Honorable Paul O'Neill 
The Honorable Robert B. Zoellick 
The Honorable Gail Norton 
The Honorable Spencer Abraham 
The Honorable Christine Todd Whitman 

http://archive.greenpeace.org/~climate/climatecountdown/uscibintro.html#whatsays