JUNE 1999 · VOLUME 20· NUMBER 6


ENERGY FOLLIES

 
Taming the Kingpins of Carbon
 


In their report, "Kingpins of Carbon," The Natural Resources Defense Council, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund made the following recommendations:

  • Governments should reject the hypocritical attempt by fossil fuel producers to divide developed and developing countries by promoting fossil fuel use with one hand, while with the other arguing that the United States should not agree to reduce its carbon emissions until developing countries do likewise.

  • Governments should require energy companies to report their current fossil fuel production on the basis of carbon content and the future emission implications of their investments in fossil fuel production capacity. In the United States, this information should be collected and published by the Energy Information Administration. Internationally, this information should be made available through national reports required by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

  • The United States should be a world leader in reducing dependence on fossil fuels. As demonstrated in the 1997 report, "Energy Innovations: A Prosperous Path to a Clean Environment," issued by the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Tellus Institute and the Union of Concerned Scientists, by investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy supply the United States can reduce its carbon emissions while creating jobs and saving consumers money.