Chamber shunned for opposing greenhouse gas limits

Apple has sent a letter of resignation (PDF) to the US Chamber of Commerce over a disagreement involving proposed environmental legislation, the New York Times reports. Chamber president and chief executive Thomas J. Donohue recently voiced opposition to expanded EPA policies aimed at greenhouse gas emissions.

"We strongly object to the Chamber's recent comments opposing the EPA's effort to limit greenhouse gasses," wrote Catherine Novelli, Apple's VP of Worldwide Government Affairs, in an open letter to Donohue. "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."

To highlight its environmental efforts, Apple recently disclosed life cycle analysis data for its range of products. The company provides reports with information regarding greenhouse gas emissions, exclusion of hazardous materials, energy efficiency, material efficiency and packaging. The recent focus on environmental issues has even earned praise from the activist group Greenpeace.

"As a company, we are working hard to reduce our own greenhouse gas emissions by relying on renewable energy at our facilities and designing more energy-efficient products for our customers," says Novelli. "We have undertaken this unilaterally and without government mandate, because we believe it is the right thing to do."

Donohue claims the Chamber is opposed to the Waxman-Markey bill because it is "neither comprehensive nor international," while lacking provisions for pushing renewable and alternative technology into the marketplace. "It would also impose carbon tariffs on goods imported into the United States, a move that would almost certainly spur retaliation from global trading partners."

The Chamber is being shunned by several different companies. Utilities providers Pacific Gas & Electric, PNM Resources and Exelon have also quit the organization, along with Nike. All of the companies cited the environmental policy disagreement as the reason for departure.

by MacNN Staff