More than 300 companies, including Monsanto and Unilever, called on President-elect Donald Trump, President Obama and Congress to continue U.S. participation in the Paris Agreement, reports NPR. The international treaty commits countries to lowering global climate emissions and keeping world temperature increases below two degrees beyond the pre-industrial standard. Dupont, Starbucks, Kellogg’s, and General Mills also signed the open letter, along with many more non-food firms, including Nike.
The signatories said that if the U.S. leaves the deal, it will be bad for business. “Failure to build a low-carbon economy puts American prosperity at risk. But the right action now will create jobs and boost U.S. competitiveness,” reads the letter. “Implementing the Paris Agreement will enable and encourage businesses and investors to turn the billions of dollars in existing low-carbon investments into the trillions of dollars the world needs to bring clean energy and prosperity to all.”
Trump has promised to scrap America’s commitments to the Paris Agreement. In 2012, he tweeted that it was a concept “created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.”