U.S. Chamber's Principles for Climate Change Policy

In this post on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's blog is an outline of the Chamber's position on climate change policy centered around these five principles:

• First, climate legislation must preserve American jobs and the competitiveness of U.S. industry.
• Second, it must provide an international solution that that includes the widest possible participation.
• Third, it must accelerate the development and commercial adoption of clean energy technologies.
• Fourth, it must reduce barriers to the development of climate-friendly energy sources.
• And fifth, it should encourage energy conservation and efficiency.

The Chamber also helped 17 other nations' business organizations prepare this Joint Declaration in advance of the UN negotiations set to begin in Copenhagen in December. It is positive to see the international business community position for a greater voice in international and domestic climate change policy as long as it is not intended, ultimately, to be posturing for favorable treatment in a domestic cap-and-trade regime. I would also argue that energy efficiency both in the US and abroad should be the top priority for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.