President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord was rippling through the tech community on Thursday as Amazon, Microsoft, Elon Musk and others weighed in with reactions to the news.
Despite pleas from those ranging from fellow heads of state to leaders of some of the world’s biggest tech companies, Trump acted to initiate the process of backing out of the landmark agreement aimed at reducing carbon emissions and stemming the tide of global warming.
“In order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord but begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris accord or an entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States,” Trump said Thursday. “We are getting out. But we will start to negotiate, and we will see if we can make a deal that’s fair. And if we can, that’s great.”
Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, was perhaps the most high-profile tech leader to express his displeasure with Trump’s decision, and he did so by following through on his threat to abandon his positions on the president’s advisory councils.
Am departing presidential councils. Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 1, 2017
Under Paris deal, China committed to produce as much clean electricity by 2030 as the US does from all sources today https://t.co/F8Ppr2o7Rl
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 1, 2017
Musk, who has previously defended his access to the president as a way to work through disagreements from the inside, was serving on White House advisory councils that focus on manufacturing and infrastructure, as well as on Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum. He was also assisting a White House office aimed at boosting American innovation, led by Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law.
In a short tweet storm of its own, Amazon’s official news feed stressed its continued support for action on climate change.
1/4 Amazon continues to support the Paris climate agreement and action on climate change.
— Amazon News (@amazonnews) June 1, 2017
2/4 We believe that robust clean energy and climate policies can support American competitiveness, innovation, and job growth.
— Amazon News (@amazonnews) June 1, 2017
3/4 We remain committed to putting our scale and inventive culture to work in ways that are good for the environment and our customers.
— Amazon News (@amazonnews) June 1, 2017
4/4 For more information on our commitment to sustainability, visit our website https://t.co/LrnVdML0el
— Amazon News (@amazonnews) June 1, 2017
Microsoft President Brad Smith tweeted disappointment on behalf of the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant. Earlier, Smith posted a letter, signed by Microsoft and other companies such as Facebook, Google, Apple and Intel, urging Trump to stick with the agreement signed by President Obama in 2015.
We’re disappointed with the decision to exit the Paris Agreement. Microsoft remains committed to doing our part to achieve its goals.
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) June 1, 2017
Smith also shared a LinkedIn post in which he wrote, “We all live on a small planet and every nation needs to work with others to protect it.” He said that Microsoft is of the belief that continued U.S. participation in the agreement “benefits U.S. businesses and the economy in important and multiple ways” including creating “new markets for innovative clean technologies, from green power to smart grids to cloud-enabled solutions.”
Reiterating a commitment to embrace sustainability across every aspect of its business, cloud computing company Salesforce tweeted its displeasure with Trump — complete with an illustration of two bears standing in the woods.
Salesforce Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from Paris Agreement: https://t.co/SeBTRteXDC pic.twitter.com/77reuijN2B
— Salesforce (@salesforce) June 1, 2017
Washington Sen. Patty Murray released a statement calling the president’s “short-sighted” action “especially cruel” for her home state.
“It is truly a sad commentary that when faced with two choices — to either uphold the Paris climate deal to combat perhaps the most significant challenge of our time, or, to abdicate all responsibility and walk away — President Trump chose the latter. This is especially cruel as Washington state is already grappling with the harsh effects of climate change, from ocean acidification and shrinking glaciers on Mt. Rainier, to more intense droughts and crop damage, and bigger, more devastating wildfires. Our children, and our children’s children, will remember the moment when the President of the United States of America chose the short-sighted political payoff despite scientific fact, overwhelming global support, long-term financial stability, and the will of millions of families he vowed to represent. To say I’m disappointed with President Trump’s decision is an understatement.”
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued several tweets on the “shameful course of action” and announced the state’s intention, along with others, to be part of a United States Climate Alliance.
Leaving the Paris agreement is a shameful course of action that will jeopardize the health and prosperity of our children and grandchildren.
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) June 1, 2017
Washington state has, is, and will continue leading the way on climate issues for our people while Trump and Washington, D.C. fails.
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) June 1, 2017
Along with @NYGovCuomo and Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown, we're forming the United States Climate Alliance. https://t.co/opGiz01Ntu
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) June 1, 2017
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said that “going backward is not an option” and that cities like Seattle will keep their commitment to the Paris Agreement and even pass a resolution to that effect.
As President Trump retreats on the #ParisAgreement and shirks responsibility, cities like ours will fill the void and #ActOnClimate. pic.twitter.com/C9B2rEvorl
— Ed Murray (@MayorEdMurray) June 1, 2017
Meanwhile, the folks at weather.com — who perhaps know a thing or two about whether it’s getting hotter — dedicated a good chunk of their website, below news of Trump’s actions, to illustrating what it could all mean. Starting with “So, what happens to Earth now?” the site linked to proof of global warming’s effects such as Antarctica turning green and California’s coastline disappearing.
And in the end, Astronaut Scott Kelly, a man who has seen and reflected on Earth from a place most can only dream about, called the news “devastating” while sharing an image of the home planet from outer space.
Withdrawing from the #ParisAgreement will be devastating to our planet. Paris and Pittsburgh share the same environment after all. pic.twitter.com/QNO5vHtmEF
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) June 1, 2017
The White House streamed Trump’s statement on the Paris accord live on Facebook. You can watch that again right here: