Captains of industry, corporations and business groups distanced themselves from the White House , as many expressed frustration with President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord.
The reactions from across the business world — including oil producers, the tech sector and finance — stood apart from Trump’s portrayal of the decision as a needed corrective to rules that could stymie commerce.Tesla founder Elon Musk confirmed he would quit White House advisory councils on business in protest.
“Am departing presidential councils. Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world,” Musk wrote on Twitter shortly after Trump’s announcement.
Disney Chief Robert Iger followed suit, saying he was resigning from the panels “as a matter of principle.”
Other tech and industrial sector representatives expressed frustration with the White House’s decision and pledged to continue working to combat global warming.
“Disappointed with today’s decision on the Paris Agreement,” Jeff Immelt, CEO of General Electric, wrote on Twitter. “Industry must now lead and not depend on government.”
“Withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement is bad for the environment, bad for the economy, and it puts our children’s future at risk,” said Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg, adding, “For our part, we’ve committed that every new data center we build will be powered by 100% renewable energy.
The Information Technology Industry Council was equally scathing. “This is clearly disappointing, and a setback for America’s leadership in the world,” ITI President Dean Garfield said in a statement.
