| ConocoPhillips, the fifth largest oil company | | | | |
| in the world, is taking steps to address the | | | | ConocoPhillips has doubled research spending |
| problem of global warming, the first major US | | | | on alternative energy to $150 million and has |
| oil company to do so. As VOA's Greg Flakus | | | | invested an equal amount in methods of |
| reports from Houston, the company is | | | | capturing carbon dioxide emissions. The |
| implementing programs to develop alternative | | | | company is also funding a $22-million project |
| fuels and to reduce emissions of greenhouse | | | | at Iowa State University to develop bio-fuels |
| gases. | | | | over the next eight years. CEO Mulva says |
| | | | alternative fuels are unlikely to replace |
| In an statement released this week, | | | | most of the gasoline used in vehicles, but |
| ConocoPhillips announced it has joined the US | | | | they could be part of a more diversified mix |
| Climate Action Partnership, a coalition of | | | | of fuels. |
| corporations trying to address the problem of | | | | |
| climate change. The company also calls for | | | | "Gasoline, obviously, is a superior |
| legally binding caps on emissions of gases | | | | transportation fuel," he said. " It is |
| that many scientists say cause global | | | | efficient, it is available. But, what we do |
| warming. | | | | need to do is develop all sources of |
| | | | alternative energy. It is relatively small at |
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| | | | energy." |
| In a recent meeting with reporters at Rice | | | | |
| University here in Houston, ConocoPhillips | | | | But, above all, Mulva says, consumers in the |
| Chief Executive Officer James Mulva made it | | | | United States need to reduce the amount of |
| clear that his company was joining the move | | | | energy they are wasting. |
| to address climate change. | | | | |
| | | | "We need to conserve and make far more |
| "We are doing this because we believe in it," | | | | efficient use of our energy," he said. "The |
| said James Mulva. "We must recognize climate | | | | United States, I think, we have essentially |
| change and incorporate it into our facilities | | | | about four percent of the world's population |
| and our investment program." | | | | and we use 25 percent of the world's oil |
| | | | resources. Obviously, we can be far more |
| ConocoPhillips is one of the five major | | | | efficient users of energy." |
| international companies sometimes grouped | | | | |
| together as big oil and blamed by many | | | | Environmental groups agree with that |
| environmental activists for opposing efforts | | | | assessment, but many of them favor stronger |
| to address climate change. | | | | measures than those being undertaken by |
| | | | ConocoPhillips. Groups advocating government |
| Dallas-based Exxon-Mobil, the world's largest | | | | action to curb greenhouse gas emissions say |
| oil company, remains strictly focused on | | | | the company still lags behind companies like |
| petroleum and has funded research that | | | | BP and Shell that have aggressively developed |
| questions the human impact on global warming, | | | | alternative energies that produce |
| but the other members of the big oil club, | | | | significantly less carbon pollution. Among |
| California-based Chevron, London-based BP and | | | | the fuels ConocoPhillips views as |
| the Hague-based Royal Dutch Shell have | | | | alternatives to petroleum are such things as |
| already begun programs to develop alternative | | | | oil sands and oil shale, which are fossil |
| fuels, including renewable fuels like ethanol | | | | fuels and produce the same amount of carbon |
| and biodiesel. | | | | emissions as oil. |