Sound Energy and Climate Policies Are Key to Economic Prosperity

ConocoPhillips Chairman and CEO Jim Mulva spoke to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on January 13, 2009. 

Full text of speech (99.53KB .PDF)

The first step in achieving President-elect Obama’s vision of a green energy economy that will address energy security, climate change and job creation is the enactment of a national energy policy, according to ConocoPhillips Chairman and CEO Jim Mulva. “We agree with the concept of reducing the environmental footprint of energy production and consumption. But we must be realistic about the cost of green energy, its true potential, and how long it will take for commercial-scale supply contributions.”

Speaking to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Mr. Mulva called on the incoming government not to lose sight of the importance of energy policy to the U.S. economy and national security, even with the current intense focus on economic recovery. “We need a comprehensive policy that incorporates four principles -- broad [energy] supply diversity; greater efficiency; technological innovation and sound environmental stewardship, including addressing climate change.”

ConocoPhillips has long called on the U.S. government to implement policies to address both energy security and climate change, and is the only major U.S.-based integrated energy company that is a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP). This coalition of business and environmental groups advocates strong national legislation to require significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. “USCSP is calling for a mandatory framework to slow, stop and then reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mr. Mulva.

USCAP released its comprehensive climate policy recommendations on Thursday, January 15. USCAP's full Blueprint for Legislative Action – a detailed framework for legislation to address climate change – can be found here.