Apple Quits U.S. Chamber Over Environmental Policies

Apple Inc. resigned from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday in reaction to the group's stance on environmental policies. The move came in response to the Chamber's refusal to support U.S. greenhouse gas emission reduction proposals, according to the Washington Post.

The Chamber of Commerce, representing over three million businesses, holds that current "cap and trade" legislation passed by the House of Representatives will be ineffective because it won't promote investments in environmentally friendly technology.

""Apple is committed to protecting the environment and the communities in which we operate around the world," said Catherine Novelli, Apple Vice President of Worldwide Government Affairs, in a letter to Chamber President Thomas Donohue. "We strongly object to the Chamber's recent comments opposing the EPA's effort to limit greenhouse gasses."

Chamber spokesperson, Eric Wohlschlegel, commented "While we'll continue to represent the broad majority of our membership on this goal, we recognize that there are some companies who stand to gain more than others with the current options on the table."

Apple joined Exelon, Pacific Gas and Electric, and PNM Resources as the fourth company to resign from the organization over environmental differences in the past few weeks.

"As a company, we are working hard to reduce our own greenhouse gas emissions by relying on renewable energy at our facilities and designing more energy-efficient products for our customers," Ms. Novelli said. "For those companies who cannot or will not do the same, Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it is frustrating to find the Chamber at odds with us in this effort."