Maersk calls for ?carbon distance? labeling

Maersk calls for æcarbon distanceÆ labeling    Maersk Line said in a statement Thursday that it is encouraging political leaders to create standards so customers and consumers “can follow the carbon footprint of the products they buy.”
   Saying the United Nation’s Conference of Climate Change, COP 16, is unlikely to reach political consensus, Maersk said it was responding to a U.N. call for key industries and companies to give ideas on how to fight climate change.
   'To tap into shipping's low carbon potential, COP 16 should create carbon transparency and embrace the concept of 'carbon distance,' ' said John Kornerup Bang, lead climate advisor for the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group. 'The actual distance traveled by a product is not important. What's important is the CO2 emissions resulting from the transport and the societal value of the service provided. That is the essence of carbon distance.
   'Businesses are stepping in to fill the political void. This initiative is a testament to the fact that the U.N. sees businesses as solution providers. It's good to see that shipping is seen as part of the solution,' Bang said.