US climate law: the hypocrisy of climate change? Apple, Microsoft & Co. are fighting an important US bill | newsletter

The dispute over US President Biden’s second investment package, which includes measures to combat the climate crisis
High-profile pressure groups want to block the law
US companies have made effective public commitments to climate goals

In the United States is currently taking place An intense struggle over the planned investment packages for US President Joe Biden instead of. Above all, Biden’s $3.5 trillion second package is facing headwinds. This amount will be invested over several years in social benefits and the fight against the climate crisis – funded by tax increases for corporations and high-income earners and more consistent collection of owed taxes. With Republicans staunchly opposed to the bill, Biden needs the votes of all Democrats to pass it — but there are critics here, too. And, as if that weren’t enough, pressure groups are also rallying against the proposed law – backed by big companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Disney.

America’s Corporate Commitment to the Environment: A Front Hoe, and a Laugh’s Rear?

Major US corporations have already written climate protection on their flag. Early in 2019, online retailer Amazon publicly announced Climate Pledge in Life, which he pledged to become climate-neutral by 2040. On the other hand, Apple iPhone products must start production at suppliers, throughout the entire customer service life, and even phase out as early as 2030 Zero net CO2 management. Microsoft, Disney, and other US companies have also set similar climate goals in the recent past. But “while these companies and their bosses proudly claim to be environmentalists who support the fight against climate change, their money speaks a different language,” said a press release from civil society organization Accountable.US. Because with their membership and corresponding membership fees they support many pressure groups fighting against the tougher climate laws in the United States. This was the result of an analysis of membership structures in these groups by Accountable.US.

According to the Guardian, the US Chamber of Commerce has pledged to “do everything in its power to prevent this Tax Increase and Job Destruction Act from becoming law.” According to Accountable.US, the board of directors for this interest group includes high-ranking employees from Microsoft, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Intuit and Honeywell. Another lobby group, according to The Guardian, that is mobilizing against the bill with commercials on several platforms is the Business Roundtable. According to Accountable.US, its members include Apple CEO Tim Cook, Alphabet President Sundar Pichai, and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. According to the Guardian, the group is “extremely concerned” about the bill’s possible passage – primarily because it provides for higher taxes for the wealthy to fund climate-friendly measures. Other groups fighting against the bill include Disney, FedEx, Toyota, ExxonMobil, AstraZeneca, Bayer and Johnson & Johnson, among others.

“Big companies love to tell us how committed they are to tackling the climate crisis and building a sustainable future, but behind closed doors are funding the same business groups that are fighting all hard to get the biggest bill on climate change ever,” summed up Accountable.US President Kyle Herrig. , the results of the analysis in a press release and a warning: “Hiding behind these suspicious groups not only puts our environment at risk, but also puts it at risk. These companies are at stake.”

Companies in principle to protect the climate, but not funded through their taxes

When asked by the Guardian, none of the companies contacted wanted to criticize the positions of the pressure groups they are members of or reconsider their links to those groups. But at The Atlantic’s request, some US companies confirmed they agreed with the climate points in the bill – as opposed to planned changes to tax policy. Apple’s vice president Lisa Jackson said the iPhone manufacturer will support the built-in standard for clean electricity, and Amazon has announced it will support infrastructure investments and legislative proposals to reduce emissions in key sectors such as energy and transportation.

Joshua Bolten, president of the Business Roundtable lobby group, also told The Atlantic that the legislative proposal’s rejection was primarily related to higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy. “Congress has inevitably linked the climate action to a trillion-dollar tax increase on job workers, which we strongly oppose, and trillions in non-climate spending,” Bolton said. Even if it is true that the legislative proposal in question is about more than just climate, The Atlantic points out that the associations in their counter-campaign do not differentiate between individual points of an investment package, but are taking action against it as a whole.

However, should the legislative proposal, the largest ever bill against climate change and containing unprecedented measures, fail, it looks bleak for future US climate policy. Princeton professor Jesse Jenkins told The Atlantic that the alternative to this bill was not just a federal climate-focused policy, which means “we will miss the Paris 2025 goals, and perhaps also France’s 2030 goals.” . whether Companies this and the consequences However, they are more likely to be able to withstand the high, questionable taxes.

Finanzen.net Editorial Team

Image sources: Sepp Photography / Shutterstock.com, nui7711 / Shutterstock.com