AmeriGreen Strategies

UNDERSTANDING THE NEED AND THE OPPORTUNITY

Concerns over global warming and related environmental issues, and the concept of offsetting carbon dioxide emissions are not new. In 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Kyoto Protocol, signed by 84 countries, under which all the major industrialized nations must limit their GHG emissions and bring them back down to 1990 levels. Various initiatives have been enacted across Europe and Asia to meet this objective. The European Union (EU) has committed to reducing its GHG emissions by 8 percent from 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012.Here in the U.S., adoption of similar initiatives is just beginning.
The most popular approach to mitigating global warming is emissions trading - the trading of permits to emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, calculated in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). One key advantage to emissions trading is that it gives manufacturers, entertainment facilities and other commercial enterprises flexibility in meeting their emissions targets, rather than imposing predetermined technologies or standards.

It is just a matter of time before international pressure comes to bear and our Federal and State governments begin to enact mandatory legislation aimed at cutting CO2 emissions. In addition to the primary benefit – extending the life of our planet -- there are huge advantages for American businesses to adopt voluntary standards now. These include:

Early participants will be regarded as leaders and trend setters in their respective industries.

Adopting Green business operating strategies now will give you a voice in shaping future mandates on the local, State and Federal levels.

There are tremendous public relations and marketing benefits to be gained from voluntary early adoption of carbon trading and other environmentally friendly corporate policies.