How Are California Businesses Responding to Climate Change?
Companies such as Unisys, Kaiser Permanente and Bank of America have partnered with Flex Your Power and have committed to major energy efficiency measures, which help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read about some of California's energy efficiency leaders.
A number of California companies are making voluntary commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Dozens of organizations and businesses have voluntarily agreed to inventory and register their emissions levels at California Climate Action Registry.
Companies such as Roche Pharmaceuticals, Ames Research Center, Alza Corporation and LifeScan sites in Milpitas and Cabo Rojo have committed to significant greenhouse gas reductions. Many of the companies are having their emission levels certified by an independent organization.
Notable Voluntary Climate Change Programs for Businesses
- Flex Your Power Silicon Valley is a partnership between Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, Sustainable Silicon Valley and Pacific Gas & Electric Company that aims to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions in the Valley by 20% by 2010, using 1990 as a base year. The targeted reduction in CO2 emissions in Silicon Valley between 2000 and 2010 is the equivalent of removing 1.1 million cars from the roads. 1
- California Climate Action Registry is a voluntary registry of greenhouse gas emissions, using any year from 1990 forward as a base year. The State of California, in turn, will offer its best efforts to ensure that participants receive appropriate consideration for early actions in the event of any future state, federal or international GHG regulatory scheme. Registry participants include businesses, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, state agencies, and other entities.
- Chicago Climate Exchange is a GHG emissions reduction and trading pilot program for emission sources and offset projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Members have made a voluntary, legally binding commitment to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by 4% below the average of their 1998-2001 baseline by 2006, the last year of the pilot program.
- Pew Center's Business Environmental Leadership Council is a group of leading companies worldwide that are taking significant action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.