The holding company owned by multi-billionaire Ronald Perelman is debating whether to leave the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Huffington Post has learned.Driving the debate is the controversial stance taken by the country’s biggest business lobby on climate change.
Executives at MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, which owns significant stakes in a range of companies, most notably cosmetics maker Revlon, have been holding internal discussions on whether to pull out of the chamber over its recent challenge to the Clean Air Act. Should McAndrews & Forbes withdraw from the powerful business lobby, it would be the latest in a string of high-profile defections.
Here is their statement:
“There have been internal discussions about making our position known, meaning that we would like the chamber to have a different point of view,” said spokeswoman Christine M. Taylor. The chamber’s position on climate change “is a concern of ours,” she said.”We want to be on the right side. We’re supporters of clean energy, environmental protection — Ronald [Perelman] is involved with the NRDC [Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group]. We want to state our position,” Taylor said.
Apple has become the latest company to resign from the United States Chamber of Commerce over climate policy.
“We strongly object to the chamber’s recent comments opposing the E.P.A.’s effort to limit greenhouse gases,” wrote Catherine A. Novelli, the vice-president of worldwide government affairs at Apple, in a letter dated today and addressed to Thomas J. Donohue, president and chief executive of the chamber.
Here is Apple’s Letter to the Chamber of Commerce:
Progressive investor funds and their allies are increasing pressure on powerful Washington business associations to alter their climate change policy positions, following the high-profile departure of three electric utilities from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“Nike fundamentally disagrees with the US Chamber of Commerce’s position on climate change and is concerned and deeply disappointed with the US Chamber’s recently filed petition challenging the EPA’s administrative authority and action on this critically important issue.
Nike believes that climate change is an urgent issue affecting the world today and that businesses and their representative associations need to take an active role to invest in sustainable business practices and innovative solutions to address the issue. It is not a time for debate but instead a time for action and we believe the Chamber’s recent petition sets back important work currently being undertaken by EPA on this issue.
Nike helped to found BICEP, a coalition of businesses supporting congressional action to address strong U.S. climate and energy legislation. Nike has worked to address its own environmental footprint through the development of more sustainable products, energy efficiency programs and emission reductions.”
Tropical deforestation accounts for one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the transportation sector worldwide. The biggest driver of deforestation in the Amazon is Brazil’s cattle sector, and one of this sector’s biggest businesses is the leather industry.
Not only is the cattle industry the main driver of deforestation in the Amazon, but it accounts for 14% of the world’s annual deforestation and is Brazil’s main source of carbon emissions. When we allow the Amazon to be destroyed for cattle, we destroy one of the most biodiverse rainforests in the world which releases tons of carbon into the atmosphere contributing to climate change.
They cite Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Timberland and Clark’s among the culprits. I wonder how many of Nike’s sponsored athletes are aware of this. I know the urge to be like Mike is strong, but maybe some of them would change their minds if they realized the impact.
