2007-03-20 01:26:54 -

WASHINGTON, March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the first time, dozens of institutional investors managing $4 trillion in assets today called on U.S. lawmakers to enact strong federal legislation to curb the pollution causing global climate change. Joined by a dozen leading U.S. companies, the investor group outlined the business and economic rationale for climate action as they called for a national policy that reduces greenhouse gas emissions consistent with targets scientists say are needed to avoid the dangerous impacts of global warming.

The group, organized by Ceres and the Investor

Network on Climate Risk, issued a Climate Call to Action at a press conference today in Washington DC. The 65 signers include institutional investors and asset managers such as Merrill Lynch, Allianz and the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), as well as leading corporations such as BP America, PG&E, DuPont, Alcoa, Sun Microsystems and National Grid.

A full list of signers as of March 19 appears below. For their entire statement, later signers, and additional information, please see http://www.ceres.org/Call_to_Action/index.php

In endorsing the statement, investors and companies sent a strong message that climate policy uncertainty and the lack of federal regulations may be undermining their long-term competitiveness because it is preventing them from investing in clean energy and climate-friendly technologies and practices.

"Global warming presents enormous risks and opportunities for U.S. businesses and investors," said Fred R. Buenrostro, chief executive officer at CalPERS, the country's largest public pension fund with $230 billion in assets. "To tap American ingenuity and drive business to a leadership position in the low-carbon future, we need regulations to enable the markets to deploy capital and spur innovation."

"Investors and companies are asking Washington to set a clear policy direction to address the risks of climate change," said Ceres president Mindy S. Lubber, whose organization also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk. "The greatest climate risk facing investors and business is the uncertainty caused by the absence of U.S. policy."

Climate change presents far-reaching risks and opportunities for businesses and investors. Some companies in sectors such as electric power, oil and automotive will face high financial risks from carbon-reducing regulations if they are not prepared to act. Insurance companies and businesses with infrastructure in places vulnerable to extreme weather events also face financial exposure. On the flip side, climate change presents significant economic opportunities for businesses that invest in new technologies and products to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Citing these trends -- as well as recent scientific reports concluding that climate change is taking place and that human activities are the primary contributor -- investors and companies called for the following three actions:

1. Leadership by the U.S. government to achieve sizable, sensible long- term reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with the 60-90% reductions below 1990 levels by 2050 that scientists and climate models suggest is urgently needed to avoid worst case scenarios. Wherever possible, the national policy should include mandatory market-based solutions, such as a cap-and-trade system, that establish an economy-wide carbon price, allow for flexibility and encourage innovation. 2. A realignment of national energy and transportation policies to stimulate research, development and deployment of new and existing clean technologies at the scale necessary to achieve GHG reduction goals. 3. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to clarify what companies should disclose to investors on climate change in their regular financial reporting.

"As institutional investors focused on the long-term financial performance of a company, we expect a thorough analysis of all significant business liabilities," said Connecticut State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier. "Leading companies have already made progress working to not only assess and report the risks posed by climate change, but to also set in place strategic plans to foster future growth and success. In the face of mounting evidence demonstrating the economic implications of climate change, we strongly urge the SEC to acknowledge it as a material consideration and require all companies to disclose its impact to shareholders."

"Allianz SE believes it is essential to put a price tag on carbon, thereby enabling market mechanisms to drive emissions reductions and climate protection," said Joachim Faber, member of the Board of Management at Allianz SE, which manages $1.6 trillion of assets. "Despite challenges in the application of the European carbon emissions trading system, we firmly believe that appropriately structured carbon cap and trade programs play a central role in addressing the challenge of global climate change."

"California is the country's leader when it comes to fighting climate change," said California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer. "But states and local governments, no matter how aggressive, can only do so much. To effectively combat global warming, we need action on a national scale. We need federal leadership now to preserve our future, safeguard our economic competitiveness, protect investors and help businesses minimize their risks and maximize their opportunities. The longer the federal government waits, the greater the cost our nation and its people will pay."

"The lack of a national climate policy is hindering the business community's ability to respond," said Jack Ehnes, chief executive officer of the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS). "In addition to providing a clear regulatory roadmap, Congress needs to realign energy and transportation policies to stimulate new technologies that will enable us to achieve dramatic greenhouse gas reductions."

"The investor and the business community are demonstrating that they are ahead of the political process. Like most responsible observers, they've seen the science and know it is real and must be responded to," said Timothy E. Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation. "Through their actions, they are demonstrating that preventing climate change isn't just good for the planet; it is an opportunity to bolster the bottom line. Now it's time for the policy makers to join this great global effort."

The 65 signatories as of March 19 are: Pension Funds, Labor, State Treasurers, State/City Comptrollers -- Gerald W. McEntee, President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees -- Bill Lockyer, California State Treasurer -- Fred Buenrostro CEO, California Public Employees' Retirement System -- Jack Ehnes, CEO, California State Teachers' Retirement System -- John Chiang, California State Controller -- Denise L. Nappier, Connecticut State Treasurer -- Jonathan Miller, Kentucky State Treasurer -- Sean Harrigan, President, Los Angeles Fire & Police Pension Commission -- David G. Lemoine, Maine State Treasurer -- Nancy K. Kopp, Maryland State Treasurer -- Ann Wagner, CEO, Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan -- Bradley I. Abelow, New Jersey State Treasurer -- Orin Kramer, Chair, New Jersey State Investment Council -- William C. Thompson, Jr., Comptroller of the City of New York -- Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller -- Richard Moore, North Carolina State Treasurer -- Randall Edwards, Oregon State Treasurer -- Steve Abrecht, Executive Director, SEIU Master Trust Fund -- Bruce Raynor, President, UNITE HERE -- Leo W. Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers of America -- Jeb Spaulding, Vermont State Treasurer -- Joseph A. Dear, Executive Director, Washington State Investment Board Financial Service Firms, Asset Managers, Other Leaders in Investing -- Geeta Aiyer, President, Boston Common Asset Management -- Barbara Krumsiek, CEO, Calvert -- * Mike Johnston, Executive Vice President, The Capital Group Companies (* signed as an individual) -- Jeff Skoll, Chairman and Stephen George, CIO, Capricorn Management LLC -- Michael W. O'Hern, FSC President and CEO, Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc. -- Amy L. Domini, Founder and CEO, Domini Social Investments LLC -- Alain Grisay, CEO, F&C Asset Management -- Peter S. Knight, President, Generation Investment Management -- Peter D. Kinder, President and Co-Founder, KLD Research & Analytics, Inc. -- Robert A. G. Monks, Founder, LENS Governance Advisors -- Gregory Fleming, President, Global Markets & Investment Banking, Merrill Lynch -- Joe Keefe, CEO, Pax World Funds -- Rev. William Somplatsky-Jarman, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) -- John P. M. Higgins, CEO, Ram Trust Services -- Patricia A. Daly, Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, New Jersey -- Joan Bavaria, President, Trillium Asset Management -- Tim Brennan, Treasurer, Unitarian Universalist Association -- Tim Smith, Senior Vice President, Walden Asset Management -- Jack Robinson, Founder and President, Winslow Management Co. Foundation Endowments -- Denis Hayes, President and CEO, Bullitt Foundation -- Pam Solo, President, Civil Society Institute -- Ruth G. Hennig, Executive Director, The John Merck Fund -- Lance E. Lindblom, President and CEO, Nathan Cummings Foundation -- Stephen Heintz, President, Rockefeller Brothers Fund -- Tim Little, Executive Director, Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment -- Jeff Skoll, Chairman and Sally Osberg, CEO, Skoll Foundation -- Edward Skloot, President, Surdna Foundation -- Melissa S. Dann, Executive Director, Wallace Global Fund -- Wren Wirth, President, The Winslow Foundation -- V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation Business Leaders -- Alain J. Belda, Chairman and CEO, Alcoa, Inc. -- Dr. Joachim Faber, Allianz SE -- Robert Malone, Chairman and President, BP America -- Kevin Burke, Chairman, President and CEO, Consolidated Edison, Inc. -- Chad Holliday, Chairman and CEO, DuPont -- John W. Rowe, Chairman, President, and CEO, Exelon Corporation -- Robert P. Stiller, President and CEO, Green Mountain Coffee -- Christopher L. Dutton, President, CEO, Green Mountain Power -- Daniel T. Hendrix, CEO, Interface Inc. -- Cheryl LaFleur, Acting U.S. CEO, National Grid -- Peter Darbee, CEO, PG&E Corporation -- Johnathan Schwartz, CEO, Sun Microsystems, Inc. -- Ted Turner, Turner Enterprises

Ceres is a leading coalition of investors, environmental groups and other public interest organizations working with companies to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. For more information, visit http://www.ceres.org/

Contact: Peyton Fleming, Ceres, 617-247-0700 x20 or 617-733-6660 cell

Peter Kelley, 202-270-8831 cell

Source: Ceres