James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.), at U.S.-Japan Business Round Table on Climate Change

3/26/08

 
Welcome everyone to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Institute for 21st Century Energy.
 
We have a distinguished group of people assembled from U.S. and Japanese companies, trade associations, think tanks, and energy institutes.  The Institute for 21st Century Energy is pleased to co-host this group to talk about a critically important topic.  And it's a privilege to be sharing the chair this morning with my good friend, John Hamre.
 
I also want to extend a special welcome to Ambassador Yanai.  It's an honor to have you here, Mr. Ambassador.  We hope you consider Washington, D.C. your second home.
 
The Institute for 21st Century Energy was established less than a year ago by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  We were established so the Chamber and its millions of business members could be actively engaged in the energy debate taking place in the United States and around the world.  Part of our mission is to serve as a forum for precisely the type of meeting we're having this morning.
 
Energy challenges must be viewed in a global context.  The U.S. challenges are also Japan's challenges, especially when dealing with climate change.  Certainly, the United States and Japan, as economic powers, have similar interests and concerns.  That's why today's meeting is so timely and important.
 
It's important that we understand each other's position as our countries' leaders develop their respective positions on climate change.  Looking at the calendar for the coming year, the next G-8 meeting, at which climate change will surely be on the agenda, will be held in Tokyo in July, and the U.N. Climate Change Conference will be December in Poland.
 
I look forward to hearing this morning about Japan's perspectives, and we will have an opportunity to hear the experts and business practitioners lay out their issues and concerns.  But let me make a few brief remarks about where we - the Institute for 21st Century Energy - stands on the issue of climate change.
 
We believe a diverse, affordable, and secure energy supply is fundamental to our security and the expansion of economic opportunity and prosperity.  We are equally convinced that this energy can be secured while making progress in improving environmental quality and addressing the risk of climate change.
 
The Institute is not engaging in the scientific debate over the reality or consequences of climate change; we accept the phenomenon that the earth is warming and that we must craft common-sense solutions to ensure a clean environment, as well as a strong economy.
 
Solutions can be found in three basic areas:
 
-Efficiency - We must encourage and require stronger action by individuals, businesses, and governments to use fuel and power more efficiently - in buildings, manufacturing, appliances, and consumer products.
 
-Technology - We need aggressive technological innovation, and we should implement all existing technology.  Government and business must also invest in new technologies that expand alternative energy and allow us to use traditional sources more cleanly.
 
-Global Action - We must work towards solutions that include all nations.  Acting alone will not solve the problem; it would put U.S. and Japanese businesses at a global disadvantage.  We must work cooperatively with other nations, with the U.S. and Japan playing active roles, to foster a common agreement to reach a common goal.
 
This agenda will not be easy, but we must view climate change and other environmental challenges as opportunities for global leadership roles.  Our two countries are closely linked together economically, politically, and as key military allies.  I'm confident that, together, we can find the right path forward.

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