Nov. 12, 2007 A coalition of 46 leading global companies has released what it is calling roadmap for tackling climate change, recommending specific action steps that world governments should take immediately to address the global climate problem.

The international business initiative called Combat Climate Change (3C) is urging government leaders to agree on a "maximum acceptable increase" in global temperatures and derive emissions targets accordingly. It is also calling for government policies that support market-based solutions such as stable emissions trading schemes, targeted systems to address forestry and agriculture, and support for renewable-energy and climate-management technologies.

"Industry can and should be an ally, not an obstacle, to addressing the very real climate problem," says Lars Josefsson, founder of the initiative and president and CEO of Swedish energy group Vattenfall.

3C member companies are quick to point out, however, that governments must also share the burden of in addressing the global threat of climate change.

"The policy solution to combating climate change should be very clear by now," says Peter Darbee, chairman and CEO of PG&E. "There are specific, achievable action steps that the G8+5 governments should consider immediately and we need to have the leaders of the most important economies in the world step forward and show leadership in their own policy development."

3C released its roadmap in advance of the upcoming G8 climate change negotiations in Bali, Indonesia.