News
Apple leaves Chamber of Commerce over climate policy
Apple has resigned its membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “effective immediately” over the organization’s opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Chamber of Commerce claims it is not opposed to climate change regulations, just those that have been proposed in Congress and/or discussed by the EPA. Apple is the fifth company to make a withdrawal from the Chamber over the issue, but was by far the most harsh in its execution; three other companies simply said they would not renew their membership at the end of the year, while Nike quit the Chamber’s board of directors. From Apple’s letter to Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donohue:
“We strongly object to the Chamber’s recent comments opposing the EPA’s effort to limit greenhouse gases…Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it is frustrating to find the Chamber at odds with us in this effort. We would prefer 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.”
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1
Ez to be green when you out source all your manufacturing.
Posted by Xing on October 6, 2009 at 5:04 AM (PST)
2
How can people so smart, be so uninformed about the facts regarding climate change? Climate crisis? Uh, where? Earth is cooler vs. 10yrs ago. Virtually no sunspots for last 2 yrs. Climate models that do not account for water vapor or variations in the sun’s output.
I’m actually on board with more efficiency and less pollution, but the EPA seems to be against any policies that allow for expansion of non-taxpayer funded energy production. Kind of hard to run businesses when your cost of energy is increasing, and the regulatory burden is getting worse.
The Chamber of commerce is right. I love Apple’s mgmt and products, but in this case they are wrong
Posted by Jammur on October 6, 2009 at 5:23 AM (PST)
3
>Ez to be green when you out source all your manufacturing.
Amen, brother.\
I’d be more sympathetic to Apple if only every single piece of Apple hardware that I own says “Made in China” on the back.
Posted by Joseph on October 6, 2009 at 5:44 AM (PST)
4
Poor editing on my part, but you get my drift.
Posted by Joseph on October 6, 2009 at 5:45 AM (PST)
5
How are environmental regs in worker’s paradise China? Seriously get over yourself.
Posted by Bobby on October 6, 2009 at 12:00 PM (PST)
6
You’ll have to ask Apple about that one.
Apple has no faith or love in employing any US manufacturing for anything they do. That’s why they won’t even put up 1 cent for the US pavilion at the world’s fair, thier ashamed of their roots
Posted by Xing on October 6, 2009 at 1:25 PM (PST)
7
No computer manufacturer can reasonably make most of their products in the States anymore. You can cling to principal all you want, but you’ll simply go out of business. It’s not fair, but that’s the way it is.
#2, thank you for actually putting forth a reasonable argument here and staying on topic.
Posted by Ned Scott on October 6, 2009 at 2:36 PM (PST)
8
#1 my first comment is very relavent to topic - they manufacture nothing, outsource all their production - ez to be green when you produce nothing yourself.
#2 this addresses how apple went out of their way to bad mouth chamber of commerce so I think they are fair game, when they do not manufacture any of their product here & promote an unfair advantage against us based small business that are here who have to compete against lower international environmental standards & lower wages enjoyed by apple’s outsourced manufacturers.
you know lenovo putting up some cash for the Chinese pavilion at the world fair.
Posted by Xing on October 6, 2009 at 4:04 PM (PST)
9
Xing, you should read the comments over at Ars on their article about this. This one specifically caught my attention: arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/10/apple-quits-chamber-of-commerce-praised-for-green-efforts.ars?comments=1&comment_id=772009471041
Posted by Ned Scott on October 6, 2009 at 5:29 PM (PST)
10
If Apple’s really obsessed with the environment they would make their products in the U.S. where regulations are more stringent than China. But that would cut into their profit margin & I think we all know that’s Apple’s # 1 priority. Anything else & you’re just plain naive.
Posted by Bobby on October 7, 2009 at 3:57 AM (PST)