When the U.S. Chamber of Commerce came out against federal legislation aimed at slowing global warming, Apple kicked its membership and Nike resigned its position on the board.
But Partners for Livable Communities, a national smart growth and sustainable development advocacy group, suggested this week that local chambers aren't nearly so backwards when it comes to protecting the climate. A new report from the Washington, D.C., based group argues:
There is a powerful -- and perhaps unexpected -- player in the green arena that is leading the charge in cutting emissions and conserving energy while boosting regional economies: the business community. ... The ingenuity and forward thinking exemplified by the chambers highlighted here are the first bold steps toward a more sustainable and robust American economy.
One of the 11 highlighted groups, from around the country, is here in Kansas City.
In late 2007, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce launched its Climate Protection Partnership with 20 local companies. The intent: Give those businesses resources to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions and recommendations to reduce them. In less than two years, the partnership has grown to 171 businesses.
More than 60 facilities have completed environmental assessments and another 21 are in line for on-site audits, says Pam Whiting, a chamber spokesperson. One Kansas City bank, she adds, cut its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 4 percent in just one year.
The Partners for Livable Communities praised the KC chamber for linking environmental stewardship with good economics. "Rather than becoming more sustainable solely as a matter of civic good, members of the Greater Kansas City Chamber are implementing green strategies as necessary and common sense steps to ensure the continued success of their company," the report boasts.
While the program is a little vague, with no strict reduction targets, it's certainly better than nothing. If you do the math, though, the Partnership's impact is sort of depressing.
According to its Web site, the CPP partners have reduced local carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 2 million pounds. Sounds impressive. But the Kansas City community -- including government, industry and individuals -- exceeded 22 trillion pounds of CO2 in 2005. So shaving off 2 million pounds is roughly .01 percent of our global-warming footprint.
Still, the Chamber is shopping its concept to other cities across the country. This summer, Whiting says, the chamber mailed 100 "tool kits" about the CPP to other chambers. At least two, she adds, are straight-up copying KC's initiative -- Grand Rapids (Michigan) Area Chamber of Commerce and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," she says.
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