Don’t abandon Paris climate pact, major businesses tell Trump

Ben & Jerry’s, L’Oreal USA, Nike, The North Face and Vans are among major US organisations urging Donald Trump to back the Paris climate deal. The call from more than 350 […]

Ben & Jerry’s, L’Oreal USA, Nike, The North Face and Vans are among major US organisations urging Donald Trump to back the Paris climate deal.

The call from more than 350 businesses comes as the President-elect has previously called global warming a “hoax” and threatened to ditch the landmark agreement, which came into force earlier this month.

Other firms include Gap, HP, Kellogg Company, Mars, Schneider Electric, Staples, Starbucks, Tiffany & Co., and Virgin.

Their joint statement, released on the sidelines of the COP22 conference in Marrakech, calls for an economy that is energy efficient and low carbon and states that failure to do so “puts American prosperity at risk”.

They add: “Implementing the Paris Agreement will enable and encourage businesses and investors to turn the billions of dollars in existing low carbon investments into the trillions of dollars the world needs to bring clean energy and prosperity to all. We support leaders around the world as they seek to implement the Paris Agreement and leverage this historic opportunity to tackle climate change.

“We pledge to do our part, in our own operations and beyond, to realise the Paris Agreement’s commitment of a global economy that limits global temperature rise to well 2°C.”

The World Meteorological Organisation recently said it is very likely 2016 will be the hottest year since records began.

New analysis of 58 nations found global climate change performances are improving but the transition is happening too slowly.

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