Business Leaders Applaud Progress on Regional Approach to Cut Transportation Emissions

Today’s announcement by CT, DE, D.C., MD, MA, NY, RI, and VT shows progress toward bold policies to improve public health and increase regional competitiveness
Nov 13, 2017 11:50 AM ET
Campaign: Climate Change

November 13, 2017 /3BL Media/ - As global leaders meet in Bonn to discuss efforts to tackle climate change, 7 states and the District of Columbia announced a regional stakeholder process in pursuit of policies to reduce emissions in the transportation sector. These states have decided to embark on an extended process over the coming year which could substantially transform the region’s transportation sector. 

On the heels of this important announcement, major business leaders within the Ceres BICEP Network are praising the regional approach to cutting transportation emissions.

“As a network of businesses committed to promoting clean energy, the Ceres BICEP network applauds the decision by the 7 governors and the Mayor of the District of Columbia to pursue common sense policies that would reduce transportation pollution,” said Anne Kelly, Senior Director of Policy and the BICEP Network at Ceres. “A regional approach to cutting transportation emissions is an efficient and effective way to grow the economy and protect the planet. We, along with our business members, look forward to opportunities to participate in and influence the stakeholder process over the coming year.”

“Impax applauds the eight jurisdictions for committing to a stakeholder process as they consider a regional approach to tackling emissions from transportation,” said Ken Locklin, Director at Impax Asset Management. “As a global investor with over $10 billion in assets under management, Impax is acutely aware of the risks businesses face every day. Improving transportation fuel efficiency can reduce companies’ exposure to volatile and higher oil prices, while helping to limit air pollution and carbon emissions. A regional approach to curbing transportation emissions would present a big win for economic development opportunities in the states, and save their firms money every day.”

“Stonyfield has found that cutting emissions is good for business and we support policies that foster collaboration and help the business community reduce emissions and save money,” said Lisa Drake, Director of Sustainability Innovation at Stonyfield. “We believe that smart, regional transportation policies are essential for the future economic and environmental health of our business and the region, and applaud the 7 states and DC for announcing this stakeholder engagement process.”

“As a global real estate services firm, JLL understands that investing in clean transportation infrastructure enables growth and is good for our clients’ bottom line,” said Cynthia Curtis, SVP of Sustainability at JLL, “As more of our clients embrace electric vehicles for their operations and commutes, we need strong regional policies to support broad electrification of the transportation sector. We commend the 7 governors and the District of Columbia for launching this important process.”

“At Clif Bar, we believe that reducing emissions in the transportation sector is critical to advancing the clean energy economy,” said Elysa Hammond, Director of Environmental Stewardship at Clif Bar. “Our company is working to reduce emissions across our supply chain and applauds regional programs that will make cutting transportation emissions a priority.”

Over the coming months, these governments will jointly conduct regional listening sessions in order to engage diverse communities in the conversation about how to advance our clean transportation future.

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About Ceres
Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. For more information, visit www.ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.