U.S. Business Leaders Send Open Letter To Trump: 'Don't Abandon Climate Deal'

http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorlipman/2016/11/19/u-s-business-leaders-send-open-letter-to-trump-dont-abandon-climate-deal/#5e85d6ca7765

Victor Lipman
Victor Lipman heads Howling Wolf Management Training and is author of The Type B Manager.
Nov. 19, 2016

More than 300 U.S. companies, including 72 with annual revenues exceeding $100 million, have sent an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump, urging him not to abandon the Paris climate agreement.

The letter, which was also sent to President Obama and members of Congress, stated directly, “We want the U.S. economy to be energy-efficient and powered by low-carbon energy… Failure to build a low-carbon economy puts American prosperity at risk.”

High-profile organizations signing the letter include Dannon, DuPont, eBay, Gap, General Mills, Hewlett Packard, Hilton, Intel, Kellogg, Levi Strauss, Mars, Monsanto, Nike, Patagonia, Staples, Starbucks, The Hartford, Tiffany and Vail Resorts – plus many others.

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“Elections change our leadership but they don’t change reality,” noted Matthew Hamilton, sustainability director at Aspen Skiing Company, as part of the open letter.

“Long-term stable financial returns are dependent upon a stable and resilient climate,” said Adam Kanzer, managing director at Domini Social Investments LLC.

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Victor Lipman ,

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More than 300 U.S. companies, including 72 with annual revenues exceeding $100 million, have sent an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump, urging him not to abandon the Paris climate agreement.

The letter, which was also sent to President Obama and members of Congress, stated directly, “We want the U.S. economy to be energy-efficient and powered by low-carbon energy… Failure to build a low-carbon economy puts American prosperity at risk.”

High-profile organizations signing the letter include Dannon, DuPont, eBay, Gap, General Mills, Hewlett Packard, Hilton, Intel, Kellogg, Levi Strauss, Mars, Monsanto, Nike, Patagonia, Staples, Starbucks, The Hartford, Tiffany and Vail Resorts – plus many others.
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Elections change leadership, not reality - I’ve long believed climate change to be not just an environmental issue but a management issue – posing major long-term risks to natural resources, agriculture, supply chains, infrastructure, and multiple business operations. It was also an issue that was conspicuously ignored during the presidential campaign. Business leaders are now understandably concerned about earlier statements Mr. Trump has made about climate change, questioning the science and threatening to pull out of the Paris accord.

“Elections change our leadership but they don’t change reality,” noted Matthew Hamilton, sustainability director at Aspen Skiing Company, as part of the open letter.

“Long-term stable financial returns are dependent upon a stable and resilient climate,” said Adam Kanzer, managing director at Domini Social Investments LLC.
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“Now more than ever, Levi Strauss & Co. believes it is important to reaffirm our commitment to address climate change by supporting the Paris Climate Agreement,” said Michael Kobori, vice president, sustainability, at Levi Strauss.

The letter calls for Mr. Trump and other American leaders to support three broad actions: 1) Continuation of low-carbon policies; 2) Investment in the low-carbon economy at home and abroad; and 3) Continued U.S. participation in the Paris agreement.

With all of the recent election’s emphasis on building and protecting jobs, the letter makes the overarching point that without a stable climate, jobs and the economy are subject to vast unpredictable risks.

With all of the division in the recent election, it was heartening to see so much of the business community with a unified message.