ConocoPhillips, the third-largest US oil company, is calling for a mandatory national framework to address greenhouse gas emissions. To demonstrate its commitment, the company has joined the US Climate Action Partnership, a business-environmental leadership group advocating strong national legislation to require big reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

It is all a matter of getting a seat at the table. For as the issue of climate change comes to the fore, the US oil companies want to ensure they are in position to influence policymakers as they move toward regulating emission of the greenhouse gases that many suspect contribute to climate change.