Carbon Cap: Who Supports It?

A broad variety of political, business and environmental leaders

Posted: 30-Jan-2009; Updated: 27-Jan-2010

Cap and trade is the politically feasible and effective approach to solving the global warming crisis. As a result, cap and trade enjoys the support of a broad array of leaders in business, government and the environmental community.

Political leaders: Best way to fix our climate and grow our economy

Leaders from both sides of the political aisle, from Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and David Paterson, to President-Elect Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, are supporters of cap and trade.

"So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America."
— Barack Obama Address to Joint Chambers of Congress, February 24, 2009 (video of full remarks)

"We need a successor to Kyoto, a cap-and-trade system that delivers the necessary environmental impact in an economically responsible manner."
—Arizona Senator John McCain (full Financial Times op-ed)

"Today is the day we help unleash the full force of California's innovation and technology for a healthier planet, a stronger and more robust economy and a safer and more secure energy future,"
— Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) (full statement about California's AB32 scoping plan)

"We in Delaware strongly support the launch of the RGGI auction today. As states, we can turn the challenges of energy security and climate change into opportunities that will allow us to create new jobs in clean energy and lead the country to reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
— Gov. Ruth Ann Minner (D-DE),  in support of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative's regional cap and trade system

"Vermont is one of six states offering allowances for sale in today's first ever cap and trade auction. Vermont's sale of more than 1.2 million carbon credit allowances each year is an opportunity to leverage new technology and energy efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – and grow our economy."
— Gov. James Douglas (D-VT), in support of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative's regional cap and trade system.

"...And I think the American people know that if we keep delaying the health care discussion, if we keep delaying the cap-and- trade discussion and -- and the discussion about our environment and global warming, that that is a very, very bad thing for our grandchildren. And, also, we have to keep focused on deficit reduction."
— Sen. Claire McCaskill (D, MO) on ABC’s This Week on Sunday March 8, 2009 (see transcript)

Environmental Leaders: Best for the the climate

Leading environmental groups including the Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, National Resources Defense Council, The Nature Conservancy, Pew Center on Global Climate Change and World Resources Institute know that a carbon cap is the best way to limit and curb global warming pollution.

"A cap can instantly create new customers and new jobs for U.S. manufacturers in the supply chain for clean energy. Think of wind turbines and all of the cement and steel that go into them. It's the energy and economic revitalization policy America needs now."
— Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund

"The time for America to act is now. With our economy in crisis and our planet in peril, the fate of our economy and environment hinge on how aggressively we move to repower America with clean energy solutions. We must cap carbon and create the kinds of incentives our industries need to retool and stay competitive in the global race for energy security."
— Larry Schweiger, President and CEO, National Wildlife Federation

"Because of this market-based approach, a cap-and-trade system helps assure that you can achieve your overall cap at the lowest possible cost. Cap-and-trade is the basis of the U.S. effort to control acid rain pollution, which has achieved greater reductions at lower costs than anyone anticipated."
— Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and Judith Greenwald, director of innovative solutions at the Pew Center

"To stave off the worst effects of global warming, the United States must quickly pass strong legislation including a mandatory cap on emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping pollutants."
— Natural Resource Defense Council

"The fact that so many of the country's leading companies and environmental and conservation charities are standing here together underscores the undeniable and urgent need for action on climate change. The cost of waiting continues to grow. Now is the time to invest in our future and our economy by enacting strong climate legislation."
— Mark Tercek, President and CEO, The Nature Conservancy

Business leaders: Cap and trade is best for business

Some of the largest corporations in the United States, including ConocoPhillips, Deere & Co., The Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Exelon Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo., Shell, Xerox and more agree: Cap and trade is the best way to regulate emissions while fostering economic growth.

“There’s an argument often that a carbon tax is more simple, it’s more direct, more predictable, but the question has to be, do you get the environmental result that you’re really looking for?”
— Marvin Odum, President, Shell Oil (New York Times article)

"GE pledges to use its technical depth and commercial breadth to promote and reward policy leadership that fires American imagination and encourages entrepreneurship, creates logical market mechanisms and a fair playing field, and commits unflinchingly to the use of diverse energy sources."
—Jeffrey R. Immelt, Chairman and CEO, GE

"Investment in new technologies and the infrastructure needed for a low-carbon economy are effective ways to generate the jobs and economic growth the U.S. needs to address the current economic crisis. We must position the U.S. to succeed in the new low-carbon, global economy and this is the best way to accomplish that."
—James E. Rogers, Chairman, President and CEO, Duke Energy

"Ultimately we will need to find new and better ways of producing, using and conserving energy. Achieving these goals will require a technically trained workforce, new and upgraded infrastructure and private-public partnerships. These need to be part of a comprehensive and well-designed climate policy that includes a price on carbon, a cap and trade program and a commitment to international solutions."
—Preston Chiaro, CEO, Rio Tinto