U.S. Chamber doesn't speak for Microsoft on climate
Microsoft took a stand against the U.S. Chamber of Commerce yesterday, saying that the business trade group does not represent the technology company's position on climate policy.
By Anne C. Mulkern
Microsoft took a stand against the U.S. Chamber of Commerce yesterday, saying that the business trade group does not represent the technology company's position on climate policy.
"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has never spoken for nor done work on behalf of Microsoft regarding climate change legislation, and we have not participated in the Chamber's climate initiatives," Microsoft's chief environmental strategist, Rob Bernard, wrote in a blog post. "Microsoft has stated that climate change is a serious issue that demands immediate, worldwide attention and we are acting accordingly."
The government needs to create "market-based mechanisms to address climate change," the post said. It did not specify what the chamber has done that is in conflict with Microsoft's position. But other companies have criticized the business group for opposing climate legislation.
The post represents the views of Microsoft, which is a member of the U.S. Chamber, a Microsoft spokesman said. The technology company would not elaborate and this morning did not respond to questions about whether it planned to leave the business group or take any similar action.
"Microsoft is a valued member of the Chamber and we work with them on a myriad of issues," Chamber spokesman Eric Wohlschlegel said in an e-mail.
"The Chamber strongly supports efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, and supports bipartisan legislation that promotes new technologies, emphasizes efficiency, ensures affordable energy for families and businesses, and defends American jobs while returning our economy to prosperity," Wohlschlegel added. "We also need a comprehensive international agreement that includes all CO2 emitting economies, which the Chamber has been actively working toward."
The Microsoft blog post marks the latest move by a member of the U.S. Chamber to target the group's position on climate. Last summer, Apple Inc., Chicago-based Exelon Corp., California-based Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and New Mexico-based PNM Resources Inc. left the chamber over its position on climate (E&ENews PM, Oct. 5, 2009).
The business group last month petitioned a federal appeals court to reconsider EPA's determination that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare, a finding that paves the way for broad regulations of the heat-trapping emissions (Greenwire, Feb. 15). The chamber opposed the House-passed climate bill and has not endorsed the Senate bill from Democratic Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Barbara Boxer of California.
The reason for the Microsoft post was not clear, although groups that want climate legislation said that there has been pressure on Microsoft to state its position on the U.S. Chamber. Investor groups over the past year have lobbied companies that are members of the U.S. Chamber to state whether their stand on climate policy conflicts with chamber action.
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