Best Buy is Next to Oppose US Chamber of Commerce (Following Nike, Apple, Johnson & Johnson, etc.)

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Nike, Apple, Johnson & Johnson, and other major international companies have opposed the US Chamber of Commerce’s negative stance on climate and clean energy legislation in the past year (as well as the hundreds of millions of dollars it is spending on lobbying against such legislation). Now, electronics retail giant Best Buy is putting on its boxing gloves as well.

Like others have announced, it says that the US Chamber of Commerce does not represent its views or interests on this key legislation.

Best Buy writes:

“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization with varied business stakeholders and interests. Those interests among industry don’t always align; on the issue of climate change legislation and regulatory actions, we have certainly seen this to be the case. Best Buy has stated that we are supportive of comprehensive climate change legislation and working to move toward a low carbon economy. With regard to the Chamber’s climate initiatives, the Chamber has not spoken for Best Buy on these issues. We have shared our views with the Chamber and will continue to do so. Best Buy’s commitment to sustainability aligns with global interests in addressing climate change. Best Buy is an innovator in offering our customers products and services that enable them to live more sustainably. At the same time, Best Buy is addressing our own carbon footprint resulting in a positive impact on the economic, environmental and societal well-being of the planet.”

There is a lot of movement by investors and big business to promote strong climate and clean energy legislation. I think the momentum is growing.

Tim Hurst of Earth & Industry reports, “The move from Best Buy came after a group of 43 investors sent a letter to the company pressuring it to publicly distance itself from the Chamber several weeks ago and is the latest of several similar actions initiated by groups of powerful investors who favor strong climate and energy policy.”

This also comes just one month after Best Buy joined the Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) coalition.

“We are honored to join BICEP in their efforts to advance legislation addressing climate change and promoting a clean energy economy,” Best Buy’s Senior Director of Government Relations Laura Bishop said at that time.

Best Buy has not chosen to leave the Chamber yet, but putting this statement out there is a big step forward. Who’s next?

via TreeHugger and Earth & Industry

Image Credit: Mr. T in DC via flickr under a CC license

Tags: Apple, Best Buy, BICEP, Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy, Chamber of Commerce, climate and clean energy legislation, Congress, Johnson & Johnson, Laura Bishop, Legislation, Nike, US Chamber of Commerce

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

Frank Hanlan

“The Green Business Bureau (GBB) http://www.gbb.org/ announced today the launch of their Web-based program designed specifically for Canadian businesses.”

I am glad to hear that a number of companies in the U.S. are challenging the Chamber of Commerce on their position. Inspite of our Canadian Conservative Party gov’t’s lack of action and leadership I can’t understand why businesses would choose ignore the benefits of going green and thereby fall behind their competitors who are doing so. Companies, especially new ones, in China and India have a huge advantage by learning from the mistakes made by the companies in developed countries.
Frank Hanlan

“The Green Business Bureau (GBB) http://www.gbb.org/ announced today the launch of their Web-based program designed specifically for Canadian businesses.”

I am glad to hear that a number of companies in the U.S. are challenging the Chamber of Commerce on their position. Inspite of our Canadian Conservative Party gov’t’s lack of action and leadership I can’t understand why businesses would choose ignore the benefits of going green and thereby fall behind their competitors who are doing so. Companies, especially new ones, in China and India have a huge advantage by learning from the mistakes made by the companies in developed countries.
GreenEE

So what are the alternatives to the Chamber for businesses to belong join?
- http://lightngreen.com Zachary Shahan
  
  i was wondering the same thing, or, actually, if some alternative may develop (but that would be a huge task). i think the main goal is to get the Chamber to do a better job of representing its members’ interests, not just the interests of its biggest big shots (i.e. oil and coal giants)
GreenEE

So what are the alternatives to the Chamber for businesses to belong join?
- http://lightngreen.com Zachary Shahan
  
  i was wondering the same thing, or, actually, if some alternative may develop (but that would be a huge task). i think the main goal is to get the Chamber to do a better job of representing its members’ interests, not just the interests of its biggest big shots (i.e. oil and coal giants)