Nike, Levi Strauss, Sun Microsystems, Timberland and Starbucks are the founding members of Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP). The companies are calling for the passage of comprehensive clean energy legislation in 2009
"Climate change is a threat to any business that relies on an agricultural product like we do with coffee," said Ben Packard of Seattle-based Starbucks.
The group has laid out eight core principles, ranging from a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emission to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, a nationwide cap and trade system for carbon pollution, and generating 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Other BICEP proposals include requiring new coal-fired power plants to include carbon capture technology, generating more "green collar" jobs and promoting a greener transportation infrastructure with more mass transit-oriented development and plug-in electric hybrids.
"Clean energy is not only urgent but imperative to creating positive, long-term change," said Sarah Severn of Nike, which is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.
