Sept. 18 (UPI) — Apparel companies are the latest in a growing list of high-profile brands making pledges to support Paris climate agreement goals, sustainability leaders said.
Levi Strauss & Co., Gap Inc. and Nike Inc. are among the latest to join a growing list of 90 companies committed to working on ways to offset problems associated with global warming with low-carbon pledges. These companies have joined an initiative aimed at setting “ambitious” targets to cut emissions, according to a joint measure steered in part by the World Resources Institute.
French luxury goods company Kering and British retailer Marks & Spencer emerged early with concrete commitments. Kering aims to cut emissions from purchased goods and services by 40 percent by 2025, while Marks & Spencer aims to reduce overall emissions by 80 percent of their 2007-base year by 2030.
Kimberly-Clark, a paper-based personal care production company, said last week it planned to get about a third of its power needs met by wind power. Estée Lauder Companies, Kellogg Company, DBS Bank Ltd and Clif Bar & Company also joined a growing list of companies pledging to get 100 percent of their electricity from renewable resources.
Commitments announced Monday kicked off a global climate summit in New York City, which takes place alongside the annual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. The assembly marks the first for U.S. President Donald Trump, who’s expected to outline his vision for a changing America before the world body.
During the weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told John Dickerson of CBS’s Face the Nation there may be some room for maneuvering within the Paris climate deal, an apparent change of tone after starting the process of withdrawal earlier this year.
“We are willing to work with partners in the Paris climate accord if we can construct a set of terms that we believe is fair and balanced for the American people,” he said. “We want to be productive [and] we want to be helpful.”
