Mohawk Fine Paper Joins U.S. Chamber Exodus

October 21, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Citing its disapproval with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s position on climate change, another company has left the fold.

Mohawk Fine Paper believes that to belong to an organization that fights action on climate change hurts its credibility as an advocate for environmental protection, said George Milner, Mohawk’s Vice President for Environmental Affairs, reports AP.

The news comes as it has been revealed that the chamber spent a record $34.7 million in lobbying in the third quarter, much of it directed to fighting the Obama administration’s effort to overhaul energy and climate policy, as well as health care reform and financial regulation, according to the article.

To date, Apple has been the highest profile defection from the chamber. Also in recent weeks, PG&E, PMN and Exelon, three utilities, announced their intention not to renew their chamber memberships.

Also, an investors group sent letters to 14 major U.S. corporations, asking them to publicly distance themselves from the chamber’s positions. The investors group, in the letters, asked the companies to address their disagreement with the chamber and NAM by any of three methods:

withdraw membership
publicly disclose their disagreement with the chamber and NAM’s positions
ask the chamber and NAM to refund the portion of dues used to lobby against climate change action.

Companies targeted included GM, Boeing, Deere, Xerox and others.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Survey Results: Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

Keep putting pressure on the Chamber!!!

Climate change is bad for everyone (including businesses) but the Chamber doesn’t seem to get it!

Custom Organic Shirts | October 21st, 2009

Perhaps these defecting companies should create a “Green Chamber of Commerce” or “Chamber of Sustainable Commerce” and become a stronger force to drive change in US and global business.

Gail Murphy | October 21st, 2009

@Gail — “Chamber of Sustainable Commerce” – I like that! Of course, you should check out the organization Green America (http://www.greenamericatoday.org/), which is essentially just that. They are great.

Custom Organic Shirts | October 22nd, 2009

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader