Even oil companies want us to sign onto Kyoto!

Shell CEO Targets Washington Over Kyoto
Chris Noon,
12.05.06,
1:00 PM ET


London - The U.S., the world's largest polluter, is seen as a rogue nation by some environmentalists. The country withdrew from the Kyoto agreement on global warming in 2001, citing economic concerns. However, it's not just dreadlocked students sporting Arnold "Action Hero" Schwarznegger badges who are criticizing Washington for dragging its heels over a commitment to fighting climate change.

Royal Dutch Shell's (nyse: RDSA - news - people ) chief executive Jeroen van der Veer, who was at the Arab Strategy Forum in Dubai, bristled when he was asked by an American attendee whether the company's business plans were being hurt by the international effort against global warming, and whether carbon dioxide emissions from burning oil-based fuels were considered the prime cause.

"You are from the United States. Why don't you join the Kyoto agreement?" Van der Veer shot back at his interrogator. "You see an initial framework there and you can build on that for our future." He claimed that U.S. backing for a global regulatory framework would create incentives for oil companies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

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