Shell chief favours cross-border cooperation over competition to cut CO2

BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc.’s chief executive Jeroen van der Veer said the group favours a scenario to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions which promotes cross-border cooperation rather than countries rushing to secure energy resources for themselves.

Speaking at an event here, the chief executive said coalitions should take on the challenges of economic development, energy security and environmental pollution through cross-border cooperation.

Under the group’s favoured ‘Blueprints’ scenario, innovation should occur at the local level, as major cities develop links with industry to reduce local emissions, he said.

Added to that, national governments should introduce efficiency standards, taxes and other policy instruments to improve the environmental performance of buildings, vehicles and transport fuels.

‘The Blueprints scenario will be realised only if policymakers agree on a global approach to emissions trading and actively promote energy efficiency and new technology in four sectors: heat and power generation; industry; transport and buildings,’ he said.

‘This will require hard work and time is short’.

Forbes