June 01, 2017 at 11:15AM
Apple CEO Tim Cook phoned the White House earlier this week to urge President Donald Trump not to withdraw from the Paris climate deal, according to a report from Bloomberg.
The Paris Agreement lays out a framework for countries to phase out fossil fuels and adopt clean energy in an attempt to prevent the planet from warming more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. It's the centerpiece of President Barack Obama's climate legacy.
News website Axios reported on Wednesday that Trump is planning to pull the US out of the deal, which would reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate the risks of climate change, although Trump is yet to formally announce anything.
Cook, who is on a mission to make Apple one of the greenest tech companies in the world, placed the phone call to the White House on Tuesday, according to a Bloomberg source that is reportedly familiar with the matter. It's unclear who Cook spoke to within the White House.
Apple is one of the greenest megacorporations in the world. It powers its data centres with 100% renewable energy sources and its facilities worldwide with 96% renewables.
"Climate change is undeniable," Apple writes on the Environment section of its website. "Earth's resources won’t last forever. And technology must be safe for people to make and use. We don’t question these realities — we challenge ourselves to ask what we can do about them in every part of our business."
Several other business leaders and politicians have urged Trump not to pull the US out of the global pact. CEOs of 25 major corporations signed a letter in favour of the climate pact that is set to be published in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, according to The Verge.
"Don't know which way Paris will go, but I've done all I can to advise directly to POTUS, through others in WH & via councils, that we remain," Musk said.
Musk then said he would leave Trump's advisory councils if the US withdrew from the Paris Agreement, saying he would have "no choice" if the US pulled out of the climate deal.
Musk sits on two of Trump's councils: an economic advisory board and the Manufacturing Jobs Initiative. Musk has come under fire for his proximity to the Trump administration — some people claimed they cancelled their Tesla Model 3 orders because of his involvement in the councils.
Additional reporting by Danielle Muoio.
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: Everything we know about the next iPhone — including a completely new look
No comments:
Post a Comment