ACC: Bloomberg’s $85 Million Losing Bet Against Chemistry
WASHINGTON (September 21, 2022) — American Chemistry Council (ACC) President and CEO, Chris Jahn, released the following statement in response to former New York Mayor Bloomberg’s $85 million campaign against the expansion of U.S. chemicals and plastics industries due to unfounded environmental concerns:
“Everyone has a fundamental human right to clean air and water and access to energy sources that will help create a cleaner, healthier, and safer future. With more than 135,000 workers across Texas, Louisiana, and Ohio, ACC member company employees are also community members. They live on the same land, breathe the same air, and drink the same water—and they’re committed to helping to protect it for their families and fellow neighbors.
“Members of the chemistry industry do not throw stones—we create solutions. As the science behind sustainability, chemistry is the single most important element to transitioning to renewable energy and combating climate change. Nothing the environmental community wishes to achieve on climate can be accomplished without chemistry. From lithium-ion batteries to solar cells and wind turbines, to energy-efficient insulation and windows, to lightweight materials for fuel efficient cars and automobiles, chemistry—and the facilities that produce chemistry—are guiding the way forward. And even as demand for chemistry products has increased, we reduced the GHG intensity of our operations by 10 percent between 2017 and 2020.
“ACC members will continue to welcome the opportunity to partner with governments and the activist community on our journey to becoming even better corporate stewards. Regretfully, characterizing industry in a negative light has proven too lucrative of a fundraising strategy for some activists, while others recognize immense value of partnership, hard work, and collaboration. We encourage the NGO community to put fundraising rhetoric aside and join us in maximizing chemistry’s potential to solve the world’s sustainability challenges while continuing to safeguard the communities where we live, work, and play.”
American Chemistry Council
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the multibillion-dollar business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products, technologies and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health, safety and security performance through Responsible Care®; common sense advocacy addressing major public policy issues; and health and environmental research and product testing. ACC members and chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development, and are advancing products, processes and technologies to address climate change, enhance air and water quality, and progress toward a more sustainable, circular economy.
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