Companies, European leaders call on US to halve emissions by 2030

About 300 companies and dozens of European leaders on Tuesday called on the U.S. to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 below 2005 levels. 

Signatories of the business letter include tech giants Apple, Google and Microsoft, as well as other major companies like Walmart and Starbucks. 

“We … call on you to adopt the ambitious and attainable target of cutting GHG emissions by at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030,” they wrote in an open letter to President Biden.

“A bold 2030 target is needed to catalyze a zero-emissions future, spur a robust economic recovery, create millions of well-paying jobs, and allow the U.S. to ‘build back better’ from the pandemic,” the companies added. 

Specifically, they called for investing in clean energy, energy efficiency and clean transportation, as well as better agricultural practices and removing carbon from the air. 

In addition, more than 20 members of the European Parliament, as well as European CEOs and other leaders signed onto a letter Tuesday making a similar statement. 

“The climate crisis has no political colour, no borders, and no vaccine will prevent us from its impact,” said the letter, which was led by Pascal Canfin, chair of the European Parliament’s Environment committee. 

“We, European political decision makers, CEOs, business organisations, trade unions and think tanks, call the United States to fulfil its ambitions by adopting a climate goal of reducing by at least 50% GHG emissions by 2030 (compared to 2005 levels),” it continued. 

The calls come as the U.S. prepares to release its updated commitment to the Paris agreement, called a Nationally Determined Contribution, next week. 

The Biden administration is expected to exceed the Obama-era goal of reducing emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2025. 

Several environmental groups have similarly called for a 50 percent reduction by 2030 as the Biden administration strives for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.