Canadian business leaders are stepping up efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

The Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), a non-profit, non-partisan organization made up of CEOs from Canada's leading companies has begun an Environmental Leadership Initiative to get the nation on track for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting clean technologies for a sustainable future.

As part of this initiative the CCCE has appointed a Task Force of their CEO members from all industry sectors to develop a comprehensive and realistic plan for national emission reductions.

One of the Task Force Chairs, Richard B. Evans, President and CEO of Alcan is reported as saying:

Canadian businesses already have invested a great deal in making our operations and products more energy-efficient, developing new technologies to reduce emissions and costs, and shaping sustainable business models… we realize that we can and must do more as a business community. However, this must be part of a broader, more integrated set of policies and efforts at both the federal and provincial levels that involve all Canadians.

Critics of this coalition's efforts include the Sierra Club which took issue with the fact that one third of the Task Force represents the fossil fuel industry. The implication there being that they would be inclined to make any regulations less stringent or oppose any measures at making real changes.

While one third of this Task Force may well be from the fossil fuel industry, one can't ignore that this is a big industry that must come to the table in talks to reduce green house gas emissions. Of course all of the business leaders on the Task Force will have their own bottom lines in focus while moving forward, not just the fossil fuel industry. What should be taken away from this coalition is that these big businesses realize what is at stake. Although they are contributing to the GHG problem, they are taking a leading, voluntary role in shaping the future of mitigating climate change.

Via GlobeNet via The World Business Council for Sustainable Development