Apple CEO Tim Cook hit back at President Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate deal in an email to staff Thursday, saying that the company will continue to fight climate change.
In the email, obtained by Axios, Cook says that he personally called Trump to try to convince him to stay in the Paris agreement, but “it wasn’t enough.”
“Climate change is real and we all share a responsibility to fight it,” he wrote. “I want to reassure you that today’s developments will have no impact on Apple’s efforts to protect the environment. “
{mosads}Cook cited Apple’s work in sustainability in the letter, saying the company uses renewable energy in “nearly all” operations and that leaders are working toward stopping mining for new materials.
“Our mission has always been to leave the world better than we found it,” he wrote. “We will never waver, because we know that future generations depend on us.”
Cook was one of several other tech leaders who reportedly tried to persuade Trump to stay in the Paris deal, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Musk and Disney CEO Bob Iger both said Thursday that they would be leaving Trump’s advisory councils over the decision to leave the agreement.
Cook previously met with Trump to discuss the future of the industry, telling Apple employees in another internal memo that he did so because”you don’t change things by just yelling.”