February 9, 1999
The Honorable
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
You recently received a "Dear Colleague" letter from Senators Chafee, Mack, and
Lieberman regarding legislation to provide credit for early action in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. The International Climate Change Partnership (ICCP), one of the largest international
industry coalitions focused exclusively on climate change policy, urges you to co-sponsor this
important legislation. A list of ICCP members is enclosed.
ICCP has consistently stressed the need to provide legally binding assurances that
voluntary actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be credited in any future mandatory
scheme adopted by the government. Such "credits" should be granted to those companies that
achieve verified reductions between 1990 and the commencement of any mandatory program.
Enclosed is a copy of ICCP's position paper on credit for early action that provides more details
on our views.
The Credit for Voluntary Early Action Act (S 2617) was introduced at the end of the
105th Congress by Senators Chafee, Mack, and Lieberman. ICCP members believe this bill was
a credible start in addressing the issue and its reintroduction will provide a useful basis for
consideration by the 106th Congress.
It has been suggested that supporting such legislation may unwittingly create support for
the Kyoto Protocol. We do not agree. Many companies have already taken action based on the
Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1993. This
agreement called for the US to attempt to stabilize its greenhouse gas emissions at their 1990
level by the year 2000. Those who have acted in good faith or who take action prior to any
mandatory program should receive legally binding assurances that their verified reductions will
be credited, regardless of the underlying basis for some future regulatory mandate.
In meetings with Senate Environment Committee staff we have outlined the need for
potential changes to the bill prior to its reintroduction and identified several issues that will
require additional discussion and resolution. Two such matters include how to address products
that use or emit greenhouse gases, and the method for dealing with companies and industries
with very different growth characteristics. While support for any final bill will depend on
acceptable resolution of these and other key issues, ICCP has pledged its active and constructive
participation in this debate.
As an important first step, we urge your co-sponsorship of the Chafee, Mack, and
Lieberman legislation so that you can be engaged in the dialogue. ICCP member representatives
will be contacting you in the near future to discuss this matter. Please do not hesitate to have
your staff contact ICCP if you have additional questions.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Fay
Executive Director
Enclosures: Membership List and Position Paper on Credit for Early Action
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