A carbon-cap bill has died in the U.S. Senate. But judging from the slew of corporate climate goals and initiatives hitting the news lately, U.S. business isn't waiting around for the other shoe to drop. By Will Sarni

The recent shelving of the Cli­mate Security Act of 2007, designed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by nearly 70% by 2050, hasn’t stopped U.S. businesses from moving forward on their own. Despite doom-and-gloom economic predictions from the bill’s opponents, U.S. businesses seem keen to cut their carbon footprint anyway.

Just look at what’s going on in the IT sector alone:

• Verizon is driving energy performance through their supply chain by “asking” its product suppliers to increase energy efficiency by 20%. (Sounds like a Wal-Mart approach?)
• Hewlett-Packard recently announced a drive to develop new markets for its green IT products, funding new technology research aimed at boosting datacenter energy efficiency by 75%. (Sounds like GE’s Ecomagination?)
• Sun Microsystems recently provided further quantification of the benefits of its Open Work telecommuting program. The flexwork initiative has already allowed Sun to reduce its office space by 15% for a cost savings of $63.9 million.
• Epson has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 90% by 2050 as part of an overall plan to reduce resource use and biodiversity loss. Thanks to carbon footprint analysis, the company can focus its efforts on the areas that have the greatest climate impact – parts design, manufacturing, and shipping.
• BT has committed to reduce its carbon emission intensity (a ratio of emissions to GDP) by 80%. This aggressive goal will have wide-ranging effects on the company’s supply chain and energy purchasing policies.

As lawmakers flirt with carbon constraints, smart companies are innovating as if the regulations are already on the books. It’s only a matter of time before the U.S. government makes it official. But by then, will the business world much care?

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Will Sarni is CEO of sustainability consulting firm DOMANI. He is also SLM's expert-in-residence on climate strategy and the host of Climate Management Weekly.