Neil HughesChamber President Thomas Donohue fired a letter to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs Tuesday in which he chastised the company over its departure from the Chamber, according to The Wall Street Journal.
"It is unfortunate that your company didn’t take the time to understand the Chamber’s position on climate and forfeited the opportunity to advance a 21st century approach to climate change," Donohue wrote in his letter to Jobs.
On Monday, Apple announced it was leaving the chamber in protest of statements recently made against the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to limit greenhouse gases. The chamber recently threatened litigation if the EPA enacts such regulations; it would rather see Congress set policy through legislation.
In his letter, Donohue also reportedly criticized the leading proposal to limit greenhouse gas emissions that is currently in the U.S. Congress. He said that the government plan "will cause Americans to lose their jobs and shift greenhouse-gas emissions overseas, negating potential climate benefits."
In its own letter Monday, Apple noted that it has worked hard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its facilities, and is also designing more energy-efficient consumer products. Catherine A. Novelli, vice president of Worldwide Government Affairs for the company, said the work has been done without any mandates from the government because "it is the right thing to do."
"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," Novelli said. "However, because the Chamber's position differs so sharply with Apple's, we have decided to resign our membership effective immediately."
The spat between the chamber and Apple comes weeks after the Mac maker began reporting carbon emissions of its hardware on its Web site. The "Apple and the Environment" Web site notes that a majority of the company's emissions come from consumer products, while less than 5 percent are as a result of manufacturing facilities.
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
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William Gallagher
127 Comments
I would expect them to be upset at losing Apple.
I think the Chamber's record is pretty clear - business over environment. Apple is to be applauded for their work and stand.
Where's the link to the Journal article so we can read it in full? I hate it when AI doesn't post links to the stories they cite.
i'm surprised to learn that Donohue understands the chamber's position. from what i've read so far, there seems to be more than one. i guess it depends on what hat he's wearing when he opens his mouth. what a tool...
Well, good for Apple! The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is anti-environment, anti-consumer, anti-employee, anti-union, anti-public health and safety - anti-anything that impedes on corporate profits and encourages corporate responsibility.
i'm surprised to learn that Donohue understands the chamber's position. from what i've read so far, there seems to be more than one. i guess it depends on what hat he's wearing when he opens his mouth. what a tool...
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a strong opponent of climate legislation even though the vast majority of the major businesses on the Chamber?s board who have publicly stated their position on climate legislation support strong action.
In July, Donohue echoed the House GOP in pushing a petroleum industry falsehood designed to scare the public into opposing even modest climate and clean energy legislation.* In a column for the Chamber?s online magazine, Donohue wrote: "The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cost impact could be as much as $0.77 per gallon for gasoline, $0.83 per gallon for jet fuel, and $0.88 per gallon for diesel fuel?all ultimately borne by the consumer."
That scary charge is a complete falsehood. It comes from the American Petroleum Institute, (see here) which decided to ignore the actual CBO analysis and offer its own instead, claiming it is what CBO found. The API is a strong opponent of the Waxman-Markey bill and has been pushing disinformation on global warming for more than a decade.
The USCOC's public posturing of support for effective climate change legislation is a ruse. They have no record of support. Contrary to Donohue's self-serving statement, Jobs and Apple most certainly have taken "the time to understand the Chamber's position on climate" and have taken a principled stand for what they feel is in the best interest of our planet and humanity ? over the USCOC's special interest politics.