Climate 411

The Chamber of Commerce story is all over the media again today, which means we get to keep using the phrase “Scopes monkey trial” almost a century after it should have been old news.

In yesterday’s blog post we told you about Apple “resigning .. effective immediately” from the Chamber because of the Chamber’s position on global warming policy. Apple became the fifth big company to leave either the Chamber or its board of directors because of inflammatory comments about the underlying truth of climate science (the others are Exelon, PG&E, PNM and Nike).

Apple’s departure touched off a slew of articles and editorials around the country, all pointing out that the Chamber has gotten itself into a public relations hole — and most suggesting that it follow the advice of the old proverb and stop digging.

Here’s a sample of the reactions:

• San Francisco Chronicle: “U.S. Chamber of Commerce Feels the Heat“
• Boston Globe: “Chamber of overstated horrors“
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “When Big Business does the right thing“

And the winner in the pop-culture reference department is Marc Gunther, writing for the Energy Collective, who compares the Chamber to David Letterman, because the have both “really, really embarrassed themselves.”

But the Chamber is apparently not interested in the above advice. Instead, it is digging in and has launched counterattacks against Apple and some of its other critics, including the Boston Globe.

Chamber CEO Tom Donohue told reporters, including Politico‘s Lisa Lerer today:

The only regrets we have is that we maybe have not always used the right language. We don’t have regrets about our position and we don’t intend to change it.

Donohue blamed the resignations on an “orchestrated pressure campaign” by environmental groups. He also said:

What we decided to do is we’re going to let the scientists argue the science.

Of course, the scientists aren’t actually arguing anything. The vast majority of scientists long ago determined that climate change is real, and is a really big threat to us all. But it is generous of Donohue to cede the world of science to the scientists, I suppose.

On a related note, Environmental Defense Action Fund has decided to join the ranks of the vast green-wing conspiracy that Donohue blames for his problems. Check out these new ads that we’re running with our friends at NRDC.

Donohue would no doubt see this as part of an “orchestrated pressure campaign.” But much as we’d like to take credit for making five huge corporations leave an organization whose goal is to re-enact one of the most infamous trials in history — as the losing party, no less — we do have to point out that our ads are brand new, so those corporations quit the board all by themselves.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce continues to make a monkey of itself over its “Scopes trial” comment, as well as its general policy on climate change.

The latest chapter in the ongoing saga comes from high-tech powerhouse Apple, which announced that it is resigning from the Chamber effective immediately. Apple says it objects to “the chamber’s recent comments opposing the E.P.A.’s effort to limit greenhouse gases.” Those comments include threatening litigation.

In a letter to chamber president Thomas Donahue, Apple wrote:

Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it is frustrating to find the chamber at odds with us in this effort.

You can read Apple’s entire letter [PDF] here.

But the bad news for the Chamber doesn’t end there. One of its chapters is now distancing itself from the national organization. That item comes from the San Jose Mercury News editorial “U.S. chamber is a dinosaur on climate change“.

The paper says the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce has “had discussions with the U.S. Chamber and the California Chamber as well as PG&E and several other members.”

The president of the San Jose Silicon Valley chapter solidly opposed her national counterpart’s comments, saying:

There isn’t anyone who doesn’t realize that climate change is a man-made phenomenon and something we need to address and address quickly.

PG& E, of course, has already resigned from the chamber because of its climate policy — as have PNM Resources and Excelon (and now Apple).

Nike withdrew from the Chamber’s board of directors, but hasn’t given up its membership altogether.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce continues to rack up bad press because of its knee-jerk opposition to climate change legislation. (If you want the whole sordid history, read our earlier post.)

The latest news: Nike announced Wednesday that it is resigning its position on the Chamber’s board.

It’s not dropping its membership in the Chamber altogether — at least, not yet. But Nike’s statement suggests a long and happy future together may not be in the cards.

The statement begins with:

Nike believes US businesses must advocate for aggressive climate change legislation …

It continues ..

…we fundamentally disagree with the US Chamber of Commerce…

and it ends rather ominously:

Moving forward we will continue to evaluate our membership

Nike’s statement does make clear that, for now, they believe they’ll be better advocates for climate change legislation by working within the Chamber. But if the Chamber continues to push its extreme and inflexible views, Nike could become the fourth big company to walk away from the group — following in the fleeing footsteps of Exelon, Pacific Gas & Electric, and PNM Resources.

A fifth company, Johnson&Johnson, also supports climate change legislation and has publicly expressed its displeasure with the Chamber’s stance the issue. The company hasn’t taken any steps away from the Chamber… yet.

The New York Times has more on the story of Nike’s resignation.

I took this photo today at the Capitol, where twelve senators, two national security figures, and scores of supporters gathered for the announcement of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.

We’re excited that work in the Senate is beginning in earnest, and look forward to working with the Senators and staff to pass a smart, tough bill.

Environmental Defense Fund today welcomed the release of draft legislation that gives the Senate its vehicle for enacting a comprehensive bill to cap U.S. global warming pollution.

“This draft is an important starting point for Senators to negotiate effective climate legislation that can win 60 votes,” said Environmental Defense Fund Legislative Director Elizabeth Thompson.

The discussion draft released today by Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry would put a mandatory cap on U.S. global warming pollution and give the private sector the flexibility to pursue the most affordable emissions reduction opportunities.

The draft calls for reducing U.S. emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels in 2020, slightly more than the reductions called for in the House-passed American Clean Energy and Security Act. The bill is silent on how emissions permits would be allocated, leaving room for negotiations as the bill moves forward in the Senate.

“We look forward to working with Chairmen Boxer and Kerry and their colleagues to pass a bill that’s environmentally effective and economically smart,” Thompson said.