Global business leaders praised President George W. Bush for recognizing climate change as a significant issue and urged for long-term emissions standards to aid in planning. Despite not endorsing mandatory caps on carbon gases, Bush supported new technologies to reduce gasoline consumption in the U.S. Corporate executives at the World Economic Forum in Davos supported the White House's promotion of alternative energies but called for stricter U.S. emissions standards to be implemented. Duke Energy CEO James Rogers emphasized the importance of future regulations for current investment decisions, especially in the construction of power plants that will be in use for decades. Rogers and Alcoa CEO Alain Belda both emphasized the need for proactive preparation for new regulations, rather than waiting on the sidelines. Belda stressed the importance of having a unified national climate change agenda instead of individual state policies like California's. He suggested that a single rule could lower the risks for companies investing in emissions-cutting technologies. Additionally, Belda mentioned that strong leadership from the U.S. could encourage other countries to strengthen their emissions regulations. In Japan, the head of the United Nations Climate Secretariat Yvo de Boer praised Bush's environmental messages as a signal that attitudes towards climate change are evolving in the U.S. Former German environment minister Juergen Trittin noted that the speech could enhance cooperation between Europe and the U.S. in combating climate change. However, some critics felt that the speech was insufficient and overdue. Renewable energy expert Sven Teske of Greenpeace stated that the president's speech lacked a comprehensive plan and only offered technical suggestions without a real policy change. Diane Wittenberg of the California Climate Registry, an organization that helps monitor emissions, expressed disappointment in Bush's speech. "He fell behind early on and never caught up," she observed, pointing out that a majority of climate change leadership in the U.S. has been driven by state governments and the private sector, who are working to influence future environmental policies in their favor. "Businesses recognize that climate change will create winners and losers in the business world, and they want to be among the winners," she explained. A recent survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers at Davos revealed that 40% of global chief executives are worried about the risks posed by climate change, while in the United States, only 18% share this concern. Mark Spelman, head of European strategy at Accenture, suggested that the increased focus on environmental issues by corporations is partly a PR tactic to attract environmentally-conscious consumers, but also a strategic move to prepare for potential increases in energy costs in the future. "Forward-thinking CEOs understand that the cost of carbon emissions will likely rise in the future, impacting long-term profitability. Being proactive will position the company more favorably," Spelman stated. Some individuals view the transition to a cleaner or low-carbon economy as a chance for business growth. Citigroup has identified 74 companies that could profit from a shift towards a more environmentally friendly global economy, such as clean energy firms, water utilities, and automobile manufacturers.