Is Global Warming a Crisis?

• “Yes”

  

  “Corporations Are Part of the Answer”

• No Objections Yet

Corporations Are Part of the Answer

Natural Resources Defense Council

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It’s true that when NRDC was founded in the early 1970s, few corporations saw sustainability as an opportunity. Thankfully, that has all changed. 2007 was the year that many corporations wanted into the act.

NRDC, for instance, helped to launch the U.S. Climate Action Partnership with the CEOs of companies like GE, Alcoa, DuPont, PG&E and others. They’re realizing that not only is there an opportunity, but a real economic incentive as well. As one of the CEOs said, “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”

Consider a few other examples.

• Venture capitalists tripled their investment in green energy to $2.4 billion in 2006 alone.
• Solar energy companies accounted for the three largest IPOs in 2005.
• While around $17 trillion will be invested in global energy development over the next two decades.

The question that faces us is:

• Will that money be poured into polluting, obsolescent technologies that will contribute to global warming?
• Or will these investments be shifted into to advanced, low-polluting technologies that will create the new energy economy that's needed to ease global warming?

This question is particularly relevant for corporations. We tend to think of countries as responsible for largest portion of our greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s important to remember that the size of American corporations can dwarf even some countries.

Of the top 150 largest global economic actors, ninety-one are corporations and fifty-nine are countries. Companies like Wal-Mart, BP, CitiGroup, IBM, GE, and Exxon are bigger than many countries, including significant countries such as Indonesia and South Africa.

If we are going to achieve our goals in addressing global warming in the time frame that we need to, corporations have to be part of the answer. Fortunately for all of us, they are joining us in the fight.

Next Argument

"Yes" NRDC

• The Debate is Over: It's Time For Action
  4
• A Little Historical Perspective
  4
• Global Warming is Changing Today’s World
  5
• For Some, Global Climate Change Means Survival
  3
• Corporations Are Part of the Answer
  3
• A Green Economy Means Job Opportunities
  4
• The Cost of Climate Change: We Need To Act Now
  4

"Yes" Sierra Club

• Science Is on Our Side
  7
• Global Warming’s Impact Is Already Happening
  7
• How Much Damage Will Be Done?
  7
• It’s an Economic Crisis If We Do Nothing
  6
• Even Bush, U.S. Military, British Petroleum, Wal-Mart Agree With Us
  5
• Who Are Today’s Skeptics?
  5

"No" NCPA

• Scientific Consensus Overstated
  9
• Climate Forecasts Inaccurate
  6
• Computer Models Based on Faulty Assumptions
  5
• Reports of Environmental Crisis from Global Warming Unfounded
  7
• There Are Benefits from Warmer Temperatures and CO2
  6
• Climate Adaptation Better than Mitigation
  5
• Climate Legislation Would Slow Economy Without Promised Benefits
  3
• Carbon Taxes Are the Best Policy for Greenhouse Gas Regulation
  3

"No" The Heartland Institute

• Global Warming Alarmism
  7
• There Is No Scientific Agreement
  7
• Most Scientists Don’t Believe Humans Threaten Earth's Climate
  7
• The Law of Unintended Consequences
  4
• The Politics of Global Warming
  6

Most Objections

• The Politics of Global Warming
  6
• Global Warming Alarmism
  7
• There Are Benefits from Warmer Temperatures and CO2
  6
• Reports of Environmental Crisis from Global Warming Unfounded
  7
• It’s an Economic Crisis If We Do Nothing
  6
• The Debate is Over: It's Time For Action
  4

Is Global Warming a Crisis?

• Yes
• No

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