Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy
Encyclopedia
Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) is a co-operative group of businesses coordinated by Ceres
whose primary goal is to call on the U.S. government to pass broad, bi-partisan energy and climate legislation
. BICEP currently has 20 members.
, was founded in late November 2008 and is an advocacy coalition of businesses committed to working with policy makers to pass meaningful energy and climate legislation and giving consumer-facing businesses a stronger voice in the formation of progressive climate change legislation. The founding members of BICEP saw a need to form the new coalition, rather than joining other established organizations, such as the U.S. Climate Action Partnership
, whose members tend to be larger emitters with different needs than many consumer companies face.
BICEP was founded on the belief that the energy and climate challenges facing the United States present vast opportunities, along with urgent risks, for U.S. businesses. A rapid transition to a 21st century, low-carbon economy will create new jobs and stimulate economic growth while stabilizing the planet’s fragile climate. BICEP’s members are primarily consumer companies that are not major greenhouse gas emitters, but will nevertheless be impacted by climate regulations and other climate-related impacts. BICEP members believe that climate change will impact all sectors of the economy and that various business perspectives are needed to provide a full spectrum of viewpoints for solving the climate and energy challenges facing America.
to promote a broad, bi-partisan consensus among policy makers to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, with an interim goal of at least 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. They recognize the multiple paths to accomplishing this goal and therefore stand behind the following principles in the development of U.S. energy and climate policy:
Principles
Essential Policy Elements
BICEP members believe that the recent economic crisis and the looming threat of global warming together present a profound opportunity for U.S. businesses. The bold steps that are needed to restore the US economy are closely related to actions needed to solve the climate crisis. A rapid transition to a 21st century, low-carbon economy will create new jobs and stimulate economic growth while stabilizing the earth’s climate.
, Nike
, Timberland
and Levi Strauss & Co.
. Since then, BICEP has added sixteen more companies: Anvil Knitwear, Aspen Skiing Company
, Avon Products
, Ben and Jerry's, Clif Bar & Company
, eBay
, Eileen Fisher
, Gap Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle
, New Belgium Brewing, The North Face
, Outdoor Industry Association
, Seventh Generation
, Symantec
, Stonyfield Farm
, and the Portland Trail Blazers
Ceres (organization)
Ceres is a non-profit, American network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges, such as global climate change....
whose primary goal is to call on the U.S. government to pass broad, bi-partisan energy and climate legislation
Individual and political action on climate change
Individual and political action on climate change can take many forms, most of which have the ultimate goal of limiting and/or reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, toward avoiding dangerous climate change.-Political action:...
. BICEP currently has 20 members.
History
BICEP, a project of CeresCeres (organization)
Ceres is a non-profit, American network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges, such as global climate change....
, was founded in late November 2008 and is an advocacy coalition of businesses committed to working with policy makers to pass meaningful energy and climate legislation and giving consumer-facing businesses a stronger voice in the formation of progressive climate change legislation. The founding members of BICEP saw a need to form the new coalition, rather than joining other established organizations, such as the U.S. Climate Action Partnership
U.S. Climate Action Partnership
The U.S. Climate Action Partnership , formed January 22, 2007 is a co-operative group of businesses and leading environmental organizations. The group's primary purpose is to call on the U.S...
, whose members tend to be larger emitters with different needs than many consumer companies face.
BICEP was founded on the belief that the energy and climate challenges facing the United States present vast opportunities, along with urgent risks, for U.S. businesses. A rapid transition to a 21st century, low-carbon economy will create new jobs and stimulate economic growth while stabilizing the planet’s fragile climate. BICEP’s members are primarily consumer companies that are not major greenhouse gas emitters, but will nevertheless be impacted by climate regulations and other climate-related impacts. BICEP members believe that climate change will impact all sectors of the economy and that various business perspectives are needed to provide a full spectrum of viewpoints for solving the climate and energy challenges facing America.
BICEP’s goal and core principles
BICEP’s goal is to work directly with key allies in the business community and with members of CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to promote a broad, bi-partisan consensus among policy makers to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, with an interim goal of at least 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. They recognize the multiple paths to accomplishing this goal and therefore stand behind the following principles in the development of U.S. energy and climate policy:
Principles
- Promote Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
- Increase Investment in a Clean Energy Economy
- Support Climate Change Adaptation, Technology Transfer and Forest Preservation
Essential Policy Elements
- Establish aggressive energy efficiency policies
- Adopt a renewable energy policy
- Increase investment in clean energy technology
- Encourage transportation for a clean energy economy
- Promote an efficient energy market by adjusting fuel subsidies and pricing carbon appropriately
- Support climate change adaptation domestically and internationally
- Support developing countries in reducing carbon emissions
BICEP members believe that the recent economic crisis and the looming threat of global warming together present a profound opportunity for U.S. businesses. The bold steps that are needed to restore the US economy are closely related to actions needed to solve the climate crisis. A rapid transition to a 21st century, low-carbon economy will create new jobs and stimulate economic growth while stabilizing the earth’s climate.
BICEP members
BICEP currently consists of 20 member companies. The four founding members are StarbucksStarbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, Timberland
Timberland
Timberland or variants thereof may refer to:*Timberland, Lincolnshire, a village in Lincolnshire, England*The Timberland Company, manufacturer of outdoor wear*Timberland , a German board game*Timberland Regional Library, a public library system...
and Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co. is a privately held American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's brand of denim jeans. It was founded in 1853 when Levi Strauss came from Buttenheim, Franconia, to San Francisco, California to open a west coast branch of his brothers' New York dry goods business...
. Since then, BICEP has added sixteen more companies: Anvil Knitwear, Aspen Skiing Company
Aspen Skiing Company
The Aspen Skiing Company, known locally as "Ski Co", is a commercial enterprise based in Aspen, Colorado in the United States.-History:Founded in 1946 by Walter Paepcke, it operates the Aspen/Snowmass resort complex, comprising four ski areas near the town of Aspen...
, Avon Products
Avon Products
Avon Products, Inc. is a US cosmetics, perfume and toy seller with markets in over 140 countries across the world and sales of $9.9 billion worldwide as of 2007.-Business Model:...
, Ben and Jerry's, Clif Bar & Company
Clif Bar
Clif Bar & Company is an American company that produces organic foods and drinks marketed towards active people. Their flagship product, CLIF BAR, was created in 1992 by owner Gary Erickson. The company's headquarters are in Emeryville, California....
, eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
, Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher, Inc. is an American women's clothing retailer founded by a clothing designer of the same name. Her clothing is known for simplicity. She has sometimes used non-traditional models in print advertisements, including employees of the company....
, Gap Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc. is a multinational financial and professional services company specializing in real estate. Global headquarters are located in Chicago, with an operational remit covering the Americas regional market...
, New Belgium Brewing, The North Face
The North Face
The North Face, Inc. is an American outdoor product company specializing in outerwear, fleece, shirts, footwear, and equipment such as backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags....
, Outdoor Industry Association
Outdoor Industry Association
is the trade association for companies in the active outdoor recreation business. OIA provides trade services for over 4,000 manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, sales representatives and retailers in the outdoor industry, primarily in the United States....
, Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation can refer to:*Seven generation sustainability, the idea that decisions should be considered for their impact on the seventh generation to come, inspired by the laws of the Iroquois...
, Symantec
Symantec
Symantec Corporation is the largest maker of security software for computers. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and is a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500 stock market index.-History:...
, Stonyfield Farm
Stonyfield Farm
Stonyfield Farm, also simply called Stonyfield, is an organic yogurt maker located in Londonderry, New Hampshire, USA. Stonyfield Farm was founded by Samuel Kaymen in 1983, in Wilton, New Hampshire, as an organic farming school...
, and the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
See also
- CeresCeres (organization)Ceres is a non-profit, American network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges, such as global climate change....
- Climate ChangeClimate changeClimate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
- Business action on climate changeBusiness action on climate changeBusiness action on climate change includes a range of activities relating to global warming, and to influencing political decisions on global-warming-related regulation, such as the Kyoto Protocol...
- Corporate SustainabilityCorporate sustainabilityCorporate sustainability is a business approach that creates long-term consumer and employee value by not only creating a "green" strategy aimed towards the natural environment, but taking into consideration every dimension of how a business operates in the social, cultural, and economic environment...
- Investor Network on Climate RiskInvestor Network on Climate RiskThe Investor Network on Climate Risk is a network of investors and financial institutions that promotes better understanding of the financial risks and investment opportunities posed by climate change...