Paris climate accord divides industrial trade group
The Eastman Chemical Company -- one of the largest chemical manufacturers in the United States, which like many U.S. firms supported the Paris climate accord -- discontinued membership in one of the few trade groups that publicly pressed the Trump administration to pull out of the landmark climate deal. Leading up to President Trump's announcement in June, hundreds of businesses publicly pledged support of the Paris accord. But more discreetly, the Industrial Energy Consumers of America told the White House that Paris disadvantaged U.S. manufacturers..."While we valued the IECA's work in areas unrelated to climate change, the organization's action is so at odds with Eastman's position that we also cannot reconcile continued participation in IECA with our commitment to sustainability...As such, this week we discontinued our IECA membership." David A. Golden, a senior vice president and chief legal and sustainability officer at Eastman, wrote to the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre....[which] queried Eastman and other IECA members about their Paris stance following IECA's lobbying effort...Eastman's decision to leave the trade association highlights the rift that has developed in the American business community over Trump's decision to exit the Paris accord...Owens Corning [also] distanced itself from the trade group after the Paris decision, [as did International Paper]. SABIC...also said that it "did not review or approve" the IECA letter sent directly to President Trump. [refers to Alphabet, Apple, Eastman, Gap, International Paper, Levi-Strauss, Owens Corning, SABIC, Shell, Unilever, Walmart]