Energy and Climate

The challenges posed by climate change include bringing power and clean water to more than one billion people who do not have access to these essentials today and improving efficient energy generation and delivery to those who do, while maintaining and fostering global economic growth. We believe that these energy, environmental and economic challenges present an exciting opportunity for us to do what we do best — imagine and build innovative solutions that benefit our customers, society and investors.

Energy

We are working to realize breakthrough energy technologies while reducing costs for existing technologies in energy generation and delivery. At the same time, energy-saving technologies and conservation can help achieve environmental benefits quickly and at low cost. By diversifying the sources and kinds of our energy, we also limit the potential impact from disruption of any one source. This strengthens our security by helping us to avoid overdependence on any one source or region for energy.

To achieve these important energy goals, we are focused on the following elements:

• Increased deployment of renewables like solar and wind along with further efficiency developments to reduce cost
• Use of sustainable biofuels and biomass as an energy source
• Growth of nuclear energy, a near-zero emission, low-cost energy source
• High-efficiency use of natural gas, the cleanest, non-renewable fuel choice in the short term
• Use of coal, the most available energy source in the world, which currently supplies much of our energy, in conjunction with CO2 separation and sequestration technologies

Climate

The most recent UN IPCC Report (2007) concludes that most of the increase in global warming since the mid-20th century is very likely caused by human activities. Climate change has become front-and-center in everyday conversation at GE. The challenges posed by this climate change include finding a long-term path for significant GHG reductions by developing new and better energy-efficient products and services, helping to establish responsible energy policy around the world, and doing all we can in our own operations to use resources wisely.

GE’s strategic response to these climate challenges is threefold:

Ecomagination

Launched in 2005, this key business initiative reflects GE’s focuses on addressing the world’s energy and environmental challenges. It is a commitment to developing innovative products and services that meet these challenges while growing our business. Our portfolio of over 60 ecomagination products is generating increasing revenue and we are investing in R&D efforts to ensure the next generation(s) of products does the same.

Policy Engagement

Rapid policy action is needed to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. We are a founding member of the United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a business and NGO initiative that urges U.S. action on climate change legislation. We are also engaged in energy and climate change dialogues in other countries and regions, including the EU and China.

Internal Action

Through our own greenhouse gas and energy reduction commitment (1-30-30) and our newly announced water use reduction goal we are committed to showing that these challenges can be addressed quickly and successfully.

Contacts

• Gary ShefferGE Corporate, Vice PresidentCommunications & Public AffairsWork +1 203 373 3476 Email Gary
• Peter O'TooleGE Corporate, DirectorPublic RelationsWork +1 203 373 2547 Email Peter