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A huge treehug to Apple, PG&E, PNM (New Mexico’s largest provider of electricity) and others by resigning their memberships in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because they disagree with the chamber’s stance on climate change. The chamber is against any solution to global warming that could potentially increase the price of energy and recently threatened to sue the EPA if they didn’t open up the science of climate change to “public debate”, which led to and Nike relinquishing its spot on the organization’s board of directors in protest.
The chamber lost California based PG&E two weeks ago, who also quit because of the chamber’s less-than-progressive take on climate change.
In an Oct. 5, 2009, letter, Catherine A. Novelli, vice president, Worldwide Government Affairs of Apple Inc. states, “We would prefer that the chamber take a more progressive stance on this critical issue and play a constructive role in addressing the climate crisis. However, because the chamber’s position differs so sharply with Apple’s, we have decided to resign our membership effective immediately.” Source: New York Times
Both sides of the climate change debate are escalating campaigns to sway national and global policy at a critical juncture. It’s among the hottest topics at the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh, where President Obama indicated he would call for an end to government subsidies that encourage the use of fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas. Fossil fuels are blamed for contributing to global warming.
A major fight is expected when the climate bill heads to the Senate, perhaps by the end of the year, which is also when a pivotal U.N. climate conference takes place in Copenhagen.
At the heart of the ongoing clash with utilities is a statement from the chamber of commerce which asked that the science of global warming be put on “trial.”
Many of the nation’s largest utilities, along with the industry-backed Edison Electric Institute, favor legislation that would put limits on carbon dioxide emissions. They have already committed billions to reduce emissions by buying energy from wind and solar farms, using nuclear power or trying to find ways to capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and store them underground.
The chamber spent $7.4 million lobbying on climate change and other issues in the quarter ended June 30, according to a disclosure report filed with July 20 with the House clerk’s office.
PG&E said the chamber asked the company to reconsider its resignation, but spokesman Brian Hertzog said Friday that, “The chamber is on a different path.”
Chairman and CEO Peter Darbee, in a resignation letter, cited the chamber’s “extreme rhetoric and obstructionist tactics” over the climate change debate.
“We find it dismaying that the chamber neglects the indisputable fact that a decisive majority of experts have said the data on global warming are compelling and point to a threat that cannot be ignored,” Darbee wrote. “In our view, an intellectually honest argument over the best policy response to the challenges of climate change is one thing; disingenuous attempts to diminish or distort the reality of these challenges are quite another.
Includes excerpts from Climate debate leads to Chamber of Commerce rift by By Susan Montoya Bryan and Mark Williams, Associated Press
Includes excerpts from Apple Leaves U.S. Chamber of Commerce by Melissa Hincha-Ownby as published on Mother Nature Network
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