Business Roundtable, an association of 160 chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies, isn't known for taking a progressive stand on environmental issues. That may be changing.

According to Chad Holliday, chairman and CEO, DuPont, and chairman of Business Roundtable's Environment, Technology and the Economy Task Force:

The thinking of U.S. CEOs on climate change is evolving significantly. A growing number of CEOs view it as a major issue for their companies and many of us have called for timely U.S. action.

The policy statement Business Roundtable announced last Tuesday, calls for:

collective action that will lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a global basis, with the goal of slowing increases in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and ultimately stabilizing them at levels that will address the risks of climate change.

Eleven policy objectives were clearly identified:

1. taking action and reporting progress
2. improving energy efficiency
3. developing and deploying low-GHG technologies
4. increasing R&D investment
5. investing in cllimate science
6. aligning reduction timelines with the trajectory for new technologies
7. following a flexible step-wise approach
8. selecting the right policy toools
9. applying policy solutions equitable
10. maximizing access to limited feedstock and energy supplies
11. adopting global standards to a global problem

Of course, one might argue that every one of the recommended objectives are vague–indeed, they are. Nevertheless, the fact that as prestigious a business organization as Business Roundtable is advancing a point of view on global warming that, at least, acknowledges the fact that the consequences of global warming for society and ecosystems are potentially serious and far-reaching is newsworthy in itself.

When you speak for an association of leading U.S. companies with $4.5 trillion in annual revenues and more than 10 million employees, policy makers are bound to sit up and take notice.

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