DaimlerChrysler Quits Foe of Climate Treaty

DaimlerChrysler withdrew from a lobbying group that leads opposition to the Kyoto climate treaty, saying there may be evidence of global warming. The auto maker is the latest company quitting the Global Climate Coalition to demonstrate sensitivity to environmental issues. Ford Motor Co. quit last month. DaimlerChrysler executives said the group had become an impediment to pursuing environmental initiatives in a credible way. The Washington-based coalition argues that there is insufficient scientific evidence to confirm serious warming of the Earth caused by so-called greenhouse gases. Its more than 40 corporate members include oil companies and General Motors Corp. Other major companies that have left the group include British Petroleum, Shell Oil and Dow Chemical. Coalition spokesman Frank Maisano said he was not surprised by DaimlerChrysler’s departure because Chrysler Corp. was acquired last year by the German auto maker Daimler-Benz. European auto makers have traditionally tried to appear environmentally friendly. Chrysler and Ford have maintained their opposition to the Kyoto accord, and both favor working with other companies on technology-based solutions, also a position taken by the coalition. If ratified by the U.S. Senate, the 1997 climate treaty reached in Kyoto, Japan, would require that the United States reduce greenhouse emissions to below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.