Google and many other major companies such as Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft are opposing President Donald Trump’s stance on climate change. These are just some of the companies that are taking part in the “We Are Still In” initiative, an open letter to the international community and those involved in the Paris Agreement from US governors, mayors, business leaders, investors, and college leaders. The statement released today follows news last week that saw the US president withdraw support from the landmark Paris accord that was signed in December 2015 by many world leaders. The environmental agreement pertains to a global commitment to combat climate change, which would then lead to public health and economic benefits. It aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that will limit the extent of global warming, with each country allowed to set their own emissions targets and strategies.
The move from the Trump administration to withdraw from the pact has prompted heavy criticism across the world. However, President Trump has previously described claims of climate change as hoaxes and said that the pact was damaging for American workers and to the economy of the US. Several state governors prompted the coalition behind the open letter that was submitted to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday by Mike Bloomberg, former New York City Mayor. The statement has so far been backed by nine states, hundreds of US city and county mayors, and hundreds of businesses and investors, and it’s still possible to register further names. All of these supporters have joined forces to reinforce the idea that the US should remain committed to climate action through carbon and energy targets and sustainability, despite the position taken by the president. Aside from Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Apple, Intel, Adobe, Yahoo, and Twitter are a few more of the companies that have pledged support, and one of the aims is to submit an “America’s Pledge” emissions-cutting target to the UN. The statement refers to the announcement from the Trump administration as undermining the pact and being “out of step” with current feeling in the US. Furthermore, it states that there will be increased efforts from those participating in “We Are Still In,” so that the US still plays a major role in fighting climate change despite the “absence of leadership from Washington.”