Apple CEO Cook: And One More Thing … Climate Change Is a Really Big Deal - Bloomberg

Apple CEO Cook: And One More Thing … Climate Change Is a Really Big Deal - Bloomberg: "Cook spoke unambiguously about climate change risks and how Apple approaches them. "The long-term consequences of not addressing climate are huge," he said. "I don't think anyone can overstate that."

It's not an Earth-shattering statement. The basics of climate change have been understood for a long time, don't seem to be budging much and yet remain challenged by many non-specialists. What's significant then, in such a sclerotic public debate, is who acknowledges those basics, as much as what is said. That's why it was news when former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson called for a carbon tax, when the first family of oil pulled out of oil sands or, in this case, the head of the world's largest company by market cap endorses a brand new climate and business initiative by showing up and saying absolutely anything at all.

Cook went on to say other things that aren't new to anyone paying attention, but important for everyone not paying attention to hear. He challenged the still-common fallacy that good business and environmentalism are mutually exclusive. "Too many people believe you can do this or that," he said. "If you innovate and you set the bar high you will find a way to do both."

It's a leap of faith that other big companies are taking, too. Unilever, Ikea, and others are setting aggressive goals without certainty how they'll be met. Like Cook, their leaders believe their employees "will find a way" if encouraged and empowered to do so. But we're used to Unilever and Ikea saying those things."



'via Blog this'