The Obama administration on Monday announced new commitments from a host of private companies to fight climate change, the latest example of the White House nudging big business to get on board with its environmental agenda.
Monday’s voluntary private-sector pledges include a promise by Levi Strauss & Co. to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by 25 percent by 2030; a pledge by Nike to move to 100 percent renewable power in all facilities by 2025; Siemens’ plan to reduce net carbon emissions to zero by 2030; and other specific actions.
With those announcements, 81 companies have signed the administration’s “American Business Act on Climate Pledge,” officials said, agreeing to reduce their own carbon footprint as well as voicing support for the White House’s continued push on global warming.
“The bottom line is these commitments show that international action on climate is not only good for our planet, it’s good for the bottom line,” Brian Deese, senior adviser to the president, told reporters on a conference call Monday morning. “They also show when the United States leads on the climate issue, not only do other countries step up and make more progress, but you see businesses as well as other key actors stepping up to rally the world to address this issue.”
Later Monday, the president will meet with 10 CEOs of companies working with the administration to combat climate change.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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