Apple sticking with climate change fight despite Trump administration regulation loosening...

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Apple, Google, and Microsoft have banded together with a number of major corporations in the United States keeping to their pledges to combat climate change, despite actions by President Donald Trump to try and free companies from constraints in environmental policies put in place by the Obama administration.




On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order telling the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider climate rules instigated by President Barack Obama, as well as to rescind other Obama orders that forced the government to consider climate change in its decision-making processes.

The core of the attack was against the Clean Power Plan, a rule that aimed to reduce carbon pollution from power plants, cutting emissions by 32 percent by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. While the plan set targets for individual states to meet, each state had to come up with its own plan of attack, or have plans created for them by the EPA.

According to Bloomberg, many companies that have pledged to fight climate change will continue to do so. Apple joined other tech companies, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft in expressing support for the attacked climate rules, in a joint statement shortly after Trump signed the order.

"We believe that strong clean energy and climate policies, like the Clean Power Plan, can make renewable energy supplies more robust and address the serious threat of climate change while also supporting American competitiveness, innovation, and job growth," the statement reads.

This is not the first time the four tech companies have spoken out in favor of the policies. During a legal battle in April 2016, Apple pledged their support for the Clean Power Plan alongside Google, Microsoft, and Amazon in an amicus brief filing, during a lawsuit brought forward by 27 states against the Obama administration's plan.




Other companies have spoken out against Trump's action, with confectionery company Mars' vice president of corporate affairs, Andy Pharoah, advising the firm was continuing its commitment to eliminate its emissions entirely by 2040, and that it is disappointed the administration has decided to roll back climate regulations. Companies that signed a 2015 pledge to the Obama administration to reduce their carbon footprint, including Wal-Mart, Nestle, Ikea, and Best Buy, are also said to stand by their commitments.

Apple has been at the forefront of the push to a more environment-conscious economy for quite some time, and has a number of policies in place to help further the agenda. In 2013, Apple hired Lisa P. Jackson, the former administrator of the EPA, to oversee the company's green initiatives.

The push to make its suppliers greener and its embrace of renewable energy, even in its new headquarters, has helped Apple earn praise from Greenpeace. In January, it was named the most environmentally-friendly technology platform company for the third consecutive year.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 55
    boboliciousbobolicious Posts: 1,139member
    Should we err on the side of abundance of caution considering what is at stake?

    A documentary on some of the 30 years of data, for those that choose belief (or wishful thinking) over science:

    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/antarctica_ice_and_sky_2017/#contentReviews

    ...and what if Mr. Trump (and the 1% of scientists - funny how that number correlates) are wrong...?

    edited March 2017 palominefrankiemanfred zornjony0
  • Reply 2 of 55
    Stick with it Apple. The current resident of Penn Avenue is only a temporary resident. The climate is forever (or well almost)
    Lead by example and show the naysayers what can be done.

    leavingthebigggwydiontmaytyler82monstrosityfrankieStrangeDaysjony0lolliver
  • Reply 3 of 55
    sdw2001sdw2001 Posts: 18,015member
    Should we err on the side of abundance of caution considering what is at stake?

    A documentary on some of the 30 years of data, for those that choose belief (or wishful thinking) over science:

    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/antarctica_ice_and_sky_2017/#contentReviews

    ...and what if Mr. Trump (and the 1% of scientists - funny how that number correlates) are wrong...?

    Hey great...let's impose regulations that bankrupt us and kill our citizens ,and have no real effect on "climate change" to begin with.  Yeah.  Let's "err on the side of caution."  
    tallest skiljbdragonthewhitefalcongtrwilliamhlongpathmonstrosityh2pinfinitybbc
  • Reply 4 of 55
    sdw2001sdw2001 Posts: 18,015member

    Stick with it Apple. The current resident of Penn Avenue is only a temporary resident. The climate is forever (or well almost)
    Lead by example and show the naysayers what can be done.

    Every resident is temporary, including the job-killer and Green Boondoggler-in-Chief from the last 8 years.  
    jbdragongtrpatchythepiratewilliamhmonstrosityboltsfan17infinitybbcdasanman69
  • Reply 5 of 55
    Stay the course, Apple! Many who voted for Trump will be the first to fall come January 1, 2018.
    lolliver
  • Reply 6 of 55
    sdw2001sdw2001 Posts: 18,015member
    Private industry becoming more environmentally friendly is good thing.  But this is not: 

    Companies that signed a 2015 pledge to the Obama administration to reduce their carbon footprint, including Wal-Mart, Nestle, Ikea, and Best Buy, are also said to stand by their commitments. 

    Awesome.  A pledge to government.  Their "commitments" are mostly political in nature, and everyone knows it.  Many of these same companies are now working with the Trump Administration towards other ends.  

    Kudos to Apple for making its operations more environmentally-friendly.  But let's be clear:  They aren't "fighting climate change."  In fact, no one is.  There are no current actions being taken to fight the supposed unusual warming of the planet.  Zero.  Apple reducing its "carbon footprint" (as if that were a real thing) will have precisely zero impact on global average temperatures.  We could eliminate 50% of "carbon emissions" tomorrow and it would have no impact.  The next day, a volcano could erupt and undo years of manmade emission cuts.  

    tallest skiljbdragongtrwilliamhboltsfan17ravnorodomshaminoindyfxh2pinfinitybbc
  • Reply 7 of 55
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    Good on Apple.  When leadership is lacking, those with the interest of the world in their hearts need to step up to the mantle.
    palominefrankiejony0lolliver
  • Reply 8 of 55
    gwydiongwydion Posts: 1,083member
    When even the DoD and ExxonMobil agree that we should lower Greenhouse emissions, perhaps it is a real problem
    hydrogenpalominefrankielolliver
  • Reply 9 of 55
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    gwydion said:
    When even the DoD and ExxonMobil agree that we should lower Greenhouse emissions, perhaps it is a real problem
    No, CO2 is long proven not to be any kind of “problem” with the climate. Apple’s charge on environmentalism in the tech industry has always been one of my favorite things about them. But environmentalism ≠ climate change.
    monstrosityh2pinfinitybbc
  • Reply 10 of 55
    gwydiongwydion Posts: 1,083member
    gwydion said:
    When even the DoD and ExxonMobil agree that we should lower Greenhouse emissions, perhaps it is a real problem
    No, CO2 is long proven not to be any kind of “problem” with the climate.
    I would like to know the sources you use to claim that
    frankiemanfred zornjony0lolliver
  • Reply 11 of 55
    wood1208wood1208 Posts: 2,905member
    Climate change is real. To stop further deterioration is not only USA's job with regulations to help slow down but every country and humans on earth must participate. One big problem is exploding over population and with medicine and with cure of deadly diseases, people don't die as many contributing to over population and adding to environmental impacts. Best thing is either control population or kill human race from earth. So, earth is left as beautiful as it was before human became smart to screw it up.
    frankie
  • Reply 12 of 55
    jbdragonjbdragon Posts: 2,305member
    Stay the course, Apple! Many who voted for Trump will be the first to fall come January 1, 2018.
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I needed a good laugh first thing in the morning.
    gtrtallest skilh2p
  • Reply 13 of 55
    buzdotsbuzdots Posts: 452member
    wood1208 said:
    Climate change is real. To stop further deterioration is not only USA's job with regulations to help slow down but every country and humans on earth must participate. One big problem is exploding over population and with medicine and with cure of deadly diseases, people don't die as many contributing to over population and adding to environmental impacts. Best thing is either control population or kill human race from earth. So, earth is left as beautiful as it was before human became smart to screw it up.
    I applaude any company or individual that wants to improve the environment at their own expense or discomfort.
    A change in policy in Washington should not dissuade do-gooders from continuing to do good - just shut up about it and do it.

    I like your last sentence, but...
    Who made humans the "designated survivor"?  We certainally have not been in the past, that is, if you believe in current science.
    tallest skilshamino
  • Reply 14 of 55
    buzdots said:
    wood1208 said:
    Climate change is real. To stop further deterioration is not only USA's job with regulations to help slow down but every country and humans on earth must participate. One big problem is exploding over population and with medicine and with cure of deadly diseases, people don't die as many contributing to over population and adding to environmental impacts. Best thing is either control population or kill human race from earth. So, earth is left as beautiful as it was before human became smart to screw it up.
    I applaude any company or individual that wants to improve the environment at their own expense or discomfort.
    A change in policy in Washington should not dissuade do-gooders from continuing to do good - just shut up about it and do it.

    I like your last sentence, but...
    Who made humans the "designated survivor"?  We certainally have not been in the past, that is, if you believe in current science.
    An excellent point. I always love the ones who say we're killing the planet. No, we're not. If you believe climate change is man caused, we might make it uninhabitable for humans, but we're not "killing the planet". Only human arrogance would presume that's possible. 
    buzdotstallest skilSpamSandwichjony0h2p
  • Reply 15 of 55
    blastdoorblastdoor Posts: 3,258member
    Government regulation is needed when a large proportion of firms or individuals will do things that harm society as a whole if they are left to their own devices. 

    Government regulation isn't needed when people and firms behave well on their own. 

    It's great that Apple and some others are committed to renewable energy regardless of government regulation. If that becomes the norm, then the regulation might not be needed. It's not clear to me that's yet the case, though. 
    palomine
  • Reply 16 of 55
    BluntBlunt Posts: 224member
    Trump is a disaster for the world.
    singularitypalominefrankieSpamSandwichpropodjony0lolliver
  • Reply 17 of 55
    paxmanpaxman Posts: 4,729member
    Regardless whether you choose not to believe climate change science or not, carbon fuels pollute and causes damage. The future clearly lies in renewables and instead of sending miners back down the pit we should invest heavily in new technology. There is no energy crisis, we have more free energy than we can ever use. The area that needs to be covered in solar panels in order to take care of our present and future energy requirements is tiny. There are other limitless energy sources than the sun. To invest in oil, coal and pipelines just doesn't make sense in the long term. 
    hydrogenpalominefrankielolliver
  • Reply 18 of 55
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    buzdots said:
    wood1208 said:
    Climate change is real. To stop further deterioration is not only USA's job with regulations to help slow down but every country and humans on earth must participate. One big problem is exploding over population and with medicine and with cure of deadly diseases, people don't die as many contributing to over population and adding to environmental impacts. Best thing is either control population or kill human race from earth. So, earth is left as beautiful as it was before human became smart to screw it up.
    I applaude any company or individual that wants to improve the environment at their own expense or discomfort.
    A change in policy in Washington should not dissuade do-gooders from continuing to do good - just shut up about it and do it.

    I like your last sentence, but...
    Who made humans the "designated survivor"?  We certainally have not been in the past, that is, if you believe in current science.
    An excellent point. I always love the ones who say we're killing the planet. No, we're not. If you believe climate change is man caused, we might make it uninhabitable for humans, but we're not "killing the planet". Only human arrogance would presume that's possible. 
    Oh that's fine then.  As long as the planet survives it doesn't matter if all the people die.  After all, why would anyone be worried about killing people?
    singularitypalominefrankiepropodlolliverdasanman69
  • Reply 19 of 55
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    buzdots said:
    wood1208 said:
    Climate change is real. To stop further deterioration is not only USA's job with regulations to help slow down but every country and humans on earth must participate. One big problem is exploding over population and with medicine and with cure of deadly diseases, people don't die as many contributing to over population and adding to environmental impacts. Best thing is either control population or kill human race from earth. So, earth is left as beautiful as it was before human became smart to screw it up.
    I applaude any company or individual that wants to improve the environment at their own expense or discomfort.
    A change in policy in Washington should not dissuade do-gooders from continuing to do good - just shut up about it and do it.

    I like your last sentence, but...
    Who made humans the "designated survivor"?  We certainally have not been in the past, that is, if you believe in current science.
    An excellent point. I always love the ones who say we're killing the planet. No, we're not. If you believe climate change is man caused, we might make it uninhabitable for humans, but we're not "killing the planet". Only human arrogance would presume that's possible. 
    "If you believes climate change is human caused"  Seriously?  Human arrogance and far worse, ignorance, is behind human belief that we couldn't 'kill' the planet as we know it.  A bunch of ants and cockroaches left with an almost atmosphere-less planet with Mars like temperature swings caused by humans seems pretty much like 'killing' to me even if it is a few hundred years off.  However, feel free to select another 'life ending' description if you prefer.
    edited March 2017 palominefrankieSpamSandwichlolliver
  • Reply 20 of 55
    irnchrizirnchriz Posts: 1,616member
    man started changing the environment hundreds of years ago by farming, this has only accelerated and is now unstoppable.  Move to somewhere on high ground and enjoy the sun whilst it lasts.
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