US firms call on Trump for low-carbon energy efficiency

By Ovunc Kutlu

NEW YORK (AA) - A number of American companies and investors called Tuesday for President-elect Donald Trump and the new Republican Congress to move towards a more low-carbon and energy efficient economy.

"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," more than 630 firms wrote in a joint statement at "www.lowcarbonusa.org".

"We ... re-affirm our deep commitment to addressing climate change through the implementation of the historic Paris Climate Agreement," they added.

During his campaign, Trump promised to scrap the historical Paris Agreement that aims to reduce carbon emissions and limit global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.

Trump also called the climate change as "a hoax" during his campaign, and said his energy policies would unleash the hydrocarbon potential of the U.S. through more oil, natural gas and coal production.

Among the American firms that signed the statement were powerhouses such as Ebay, Nike, The North Face, Starbucks, Unilever, Johnson&Johnson.

More than 500 of the signatories are estimated to have a total revenue of over $1 trillion collectively, and they employ almost two million people worldwide.