The Kyoto Protocols expire in 2012. CEOs around the world are already planning for it. Last month, more than 100 executives put together an outline of policy recommendations for managing climate change. They presented this outline the Japanese Prim Minister, Yasuo Fukuda. Fukuda is currently planning for the next G-8 summit, which will be held this month, in July.

This move isn’t just greenwashing fodder for these CEOs’ PR departments, though. It’s a clear indicator that these CEOs are being proactive in developing the policies that will affect their businesses. They’re working to avoid surprises; they’re willing to make the changes necessary to deal with climate changes but want to do so on their own terms.

Mark Raskino and Simon Mingay are analysts for Gartner Inc, an industry watchdog. They wrote: "These CEOs are taking highly visible collective action to...[m]itigate the risk that uncertainty over intergovernmental policy presents to their businesses.” Raskino and Mingay added that the letter is a part of an effort to  "create a level international playing field for issues such as greenhouse gas emission controls and taxation."

These recommendations cover several climate change issues. If enacted, one of the immediate effects would be the availability of electronically traded carbon credits.

Photo — World Economic Forum