'People who oppose climate change are really hurting our children': Google chairman cuts ties with lobby group for 'lying' about global warming
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Google has severed ties with right-wing political group, the American Legislative Exchange Council, accusing it of 'lying' about climate change.
The company's chairman, Eric Schmidt, said Google had made a mistake in funding the lobby group which opposes US policies to reduce emissions.
The move comes ahead of a United Nation's briefing document, to be formally unveiled this week, which attempts to persuade companies to shun climate-denying businesses.
Google has severed ties with right-wing political group, the American Legislative Exchange Council, accusing it of 'lying' about climate change. The company's chairman, Eric Schmidt (pictured), said Google had made a mistake in funding the lobby group which opposes US policies to reduce emissions
The American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec) was behind the push to repeal state mandates for renewable energy use.
It has also called for research councils to study beneficial effects of climate change and to examine how reducing carbon emissions may damage the economy.
Schmidt told National Public Radio that the company had initially joined Alec to campaign on an unrelated issue.
'I think the consensus within the company was that that was some sort of mistake, and so we're trying to not do that in the future,' he said.
Schmidt told National Public Radio that Google had initially joined Alec to campaign on an unrelated issue.'I think the consensus within the company was that that was some sort of mistake, and so we're trying to not do that in the future,' he said. On the left is a protester asking businesses to oppose Alec
'The facts of climate change are not in question anymore,' he added.
'Everyone understands climate change is occurring, and the people who oppose it are really hurting our children and our grandchildren and making the world a much worse place.
'And so we should not be aligned with such people - they're just, they're just literally lying.'
According to the UN, 45 major corporations it investigated belonged to lobby groups which had anti-climate views.
Alec responded to the news by reiterating its position that renewable energy should expand based on consumer demand, not as a result of a government mandate.
'Alec members believe the Federal Government exerts too much control on state and local decision-making,' it said.
'Google's renewable energy commitment - as well as those found throughout private industry - is completely consistent with Alec policy because the companies in question chose renewables absent a mandate.'
Microsoft cut ties with Alec in July saying affiliating with a group that is actively fighting policies that promote renewable energy was 'incongruous'.
Microsoft cut ties with Alec in July saying affiliating with group which is actively fighting policies that promote renewable energy was incongruous. Pictured is Occupy Dallas protesting over business ties to Alec
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