Eleven major corporations today urged the U.S. Senate to pass climate change legislation, saying the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 3036), which will be voted on this week, â€œrepresents a real effort to establish the regulatory framework that we need.â€

The companies backing the effort â€“ Allianz of America; Catalyst Paper Corporation; FPL Group, Inc.; JohnsonDiversey, Inc.; Johnson & Johnson; Levi Strauss & Co.; National Grid, Nike, Inc; Novo Nordisk; Tetra Pak; and Xanterra Parks & Resorts â€“ are working with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to reduce their carbon emissions. Many are members of WWFâ€™s Climate Savers and PowerSwitch! programs.

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In an open letter to the U.S. Senate, the 11 companies said passage of climate change legislation is a top priority. â€œOur companies recognize that ignoring climate change is not an option. What will ultimately undermine economic growth is a failure to take action,â€ they wrote.

They further state in the letter: â€œThe Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008 represents a real effort to establish the regulatory framework that we need â€“ one that is credible, comprehensive and mandatory. While we recognize that more work remains to be done, this bill profoundly advances the dialogue within Congress about solutions-oriented policies. By harnessing the power of market mechanisms within a federally mandated system, Congress can combat climate change while creating significant business opportunities, providing our companies with the certainty they need for business planning and opening up new avenues for innovation. We believe strongly that reducing carbon emissions is not only good policy, it is good business.â€ The full text of the letter is available at WWFâ€™s website.

WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts said, â€œWhen major corporations publicly urge Congress to pass climate change legislation, itâ€™s a clear sign that addressing the problem is in our nationâ€™s economic interests.

â€œThese companies recognize the risks for failing to take action and the opportunities in the new, low-carbon world. A cap and trade program ensures that we make progress on climate change; it provides a framework for the market to reward new forms of energy and more efficient products; and finally it establishes new financial markets which will pump billions of dollars into our cities and states.â€

Roberts added, â€œThe Lieberman-Warner bill will put us on the path to a cleaner, safer, more efficient future. When the bill comes to a vote this week, the choice facing each Senator will be between two vastly different futures. I hope they choose wisely.â€