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Nike just announced that it is leaving its position on the US Chamber of Commerce board of directors because of the business organization’s opposition to climate action.

Nike doesn’t beat around the bush on why it is leaving the board.

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Nike says: “Nike believes US businesses must advocate for aggressive climate change legislation and that the United States needs to move rapidly into a sustainable economy to remain competitive and ensure continued economic growth.”

Nike is not the first major company to take up action against the organization. The nation’s largest utility company and other major utilities actually resigned from the Chamber of Commerce altogether recently over this issue.

Nike was especially put off by the Chamber’s recent challenges to the EPA. “As we’ve stated, we fundamentally disagree with the US Chamber of Commerce on the issue of climate change and their recent action challenging the EPA is inconsistent with our view that climate change is an issue in need of urgent action.”

The leading sports company also said that the Chamber of Commerce was not representing the diversity of opinions within the organization in its actions and recent statements. “It is important that US companies be represented by a strong and effective Chamber that reflects the interests of all its members on multiple issues. We believe that on the issue of climate change the Chamber has not represented the diversity of perspective held by the board of directors.”

Nike may leave the powerful organization altogether, but it is evaluating whether that is the best move and wants to try to continue pushing for climate action within the organization’s committee structure.

Nike continues to be a world leader on environmental issues. It urged Congress to take action on climate change in combination with other major companies (i.e. Starbucks, Timberland, and Levi Strauss) in the past. It has recently engaged in strong alternative transportation advocacy campaigns and successul efforts to stop Amazon destruction.

Related Articles:
1) Nike, Starbucks Demand Congress To Act On Climate Change
2) Nation’s Largest Utility Leaves US Chamber of Commerce — Because of Climate Change?
3) World’s Largest Leather Exporter Backs Out of Amazon
4) Nike Stops Use of Amazon Leather After Damning Greenpeace Report
5) Nike Engages in Anti-Car Competition: BEAT GASOLINE

Image Credit 1: Photon™ via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: Paulo Sacramento via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: joshuahoffmanphoto via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: Photon™ via flickr under a Creative Commons license

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