Expert Predicts A Second Industrial Revolution

Visiting Climate Change Expert Predicts A Second Industrial Revolution

Media Release from New Zealand Climate Change Project
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

One of the United States’ foremost authorities on the business and technological opportunities arising from global climate change will visit New Zealand next week as a guest of the Government and BP Oil New Zealand Ltd.

Eileen Claussen is President of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and former US Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

She believes that meeting the challenge of global climate change will require nothing short of a second industrial revolution.

“But unlike past industrial revolutions, we can’t afford to wait for this one to happen all on its own. We must make it happen,” she said.

Eileen Claussen is in New Zealand from 18 - 26 May and will speak to business audiences in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. She will also attend the official opening, by the Prime Minister, of the second tailrace tunnel at Meridian Energy’s Manapouri Power Station on 25 May.

During her visit, she will update audiences on the US position on global climate change and give an assessment of the “Bush plan” and reaction to it. She will also provide an overview of current Congressional and State activity and a survey of what corporate America is doing in response to the challenge of climate change.

Eileen Claussen says many corporations in the United States are taking it upon themselves to tackle their greenhouse gas emissions. And one of their main reasons for doing so is to improve their competitive position.

“The Pew Center recently completed a report taking a close look at six of these companies and all of them reported that, by reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, they had cut their production costs and enhanced their product sales.”

A similar study of New Zealand businesses is being undertaken by the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Economic Development to find out how they are responding to climate change and what their experiences have been. Initial findings are expected in June.

Peter Griffiths, Managing Director of BP Oil NZ Ltd, says as a member of the Pew Center, BP is delighted to co-host Eileen Claussen’s visit.

“BP has been at the forefront of the climate change debate in recent years while implementing our own successful greenhouse gas reduction programme.”

BP’s Chief Executive Officer, Lord John Browne, announced recently that BP had reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 10 per cent from a 1990 baseline and, in the process, had created $US650 million in value.

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