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A28 u.s. news
Diaranson 14 aPriL 2021

Business leaders urge Biden to set ambitious climate goal

(AP) — More than 300 nia and record-breaking hur-
businesses and investors, ricanes in the Southeast and
including such giants as Gulf Coast.
Apple, Google, Microsoft
and Coca-Cola, are call- “The human and economic
ing on the Biden admin- losses of the past 12 months
istration to set an ambi- alone are profound,'' they
tious climate change goal wrote. “Tragically, these dev-
that would cut U.S. green- astating climate impacts also
house gas emissions by at disproportionately hit mar-
least 50% below 2005 levels ginalized and low-income
by 2030. communities who are least
able to withstand them. We
The target would nearly must act now to slow and
double the nation’s previ- turn the tide.''
ous commitment and require
dramatic changes in the pow- While Biden has reentered
er, transportation and other the U.S into the Paris climate
sectors. President Joe Biden accord and made climate ac-
is considering options for tion a pillar of his presidency,
expected carbon reductions more action is needed, the
by 2030 ahead of a virtual business leaders said. “An ef-
climate summit the United fective national climate strat-
States is hosting later this egy will require all of us,''
month. they told Biden, but “you
alone can set the course by
The so-called Nationally De- swiftly establishing a bold
termined Contribution is a U.S. 2030 target.''
key milestone as Biden moves that support action to accel- house gas emissions in half Star Game from Atlanta.
toward his ultimate goal of erate the transition to a car- in the coming decade. They In a related development,
net-zero carbon emissions bon-free economy. called for a trans-Atlantic alli- More than 100 business lead- Apple became the first major
by 2050. Biden has promised ance to tackle climate change ers participated in a Zoom U.S. publicly traded com-
to reveal the nonbinding but An ambitious 2030 target and achieve a “just and sus- call last weekend to discuss pany to endorse regulatory
symbolically important 2030 would guide the federal tainable transition” toward a how to oppose Republican- action by the Securities and
goal before the Earth Day government’s approach to low-carbon economy. backed proposals across the Exchange Commission man-
summit opens April 22. sustainable and resilient in- country that could limit vot- dating disclosure of climate-
frastructure, as well as zero- The letter from U.S. busi- ing. Options include stop- related information to inves-
“A bold 2030 target is needed emissions vehicles and build- ness leaders to the Demo- ping political donations and tors. Apple has made such
to catalyze a zero-emissions ings, and “would inspire oth- cratic president comes as holding off in investments in disclosures for the past de-
future, spur a robust eco- er industrialized nations to fissures between corporate states that approve the laws. cade but said the SEC should
nomic recovery, create mil- set bold targets of their own,'' America and the Republican make the disclosures manda-
lions of well-paying jobs and the group wrote. Party have opened over the On climate, the business tory.
allow the U.S. to ‘build back GOP’s embrace of conspir- leaders told Biden they “ap-
better’ from the pandemic,'' Besides the tech and con- acy theories and rejection of plaud your administration’s “We're determined to do our
the businesses and investors sumer products giants, com- mainstream climate science, demonstrated commitment part to fight climate change
said in a letter to Biden. panies with major energy as well as its dismissal of the to address climate change & believe transparency is an
holdings, including Exelon, 2020 election outcome. The head-on, and we stand in important part of this,'' Ap-
“New investment in clean General Electric, PG&E and most recent flashpoint was support of your efforts.'' ple vice president Lisa Jack-
energy, energy efficiency and Edison International, also in Georgia, where a new Re- son said Tuesday in a tweet.
clean transportation can build signed the letter. publican-backed law restrict- Millions of Americans are al- “We believe other companies
a strong, more equitable and ing voting rights drew harsh ready feeling the impacts of should do the same,'' added
more inclusive American Meanwhile, dozens of Euro- criticism from Delta Air climate change, they wrote, Jackson, a former adminis-
economy,'' they wrote. The pean lawmakers, business ex- Lines and Coca-Cola, whose citing the severe winter trator of the Environmental
letter was organized by the ecutives and union leaders on headquarters are in the state, storm that caused blackouts Protection Agency.
“We Mean Business” coali- Tuesday also urged the Unit- and resulted in Major League in Texas and other states,
tion, a group of companies ed States to slash its green- Baseball pulling the 2021 All- deadly wildfires in Califor-

Major' announcement planned in student's 1996 disappearance

(AP) — A sheriff on Cali- fornia's Central Coast plans to make a major an- The news comes about was a student at the time.
nouncement Tuesday in a month after the sheriff
the nearly 25-year mys- named former student Paul Search warrants were served
tery of the disappearance Flores as the “prime suspect” last year on Flores’ home in
of college student Kristin in the case and investigators the San Pedro area of Los An-
Smart. searched his father's home geles and at other locations in
and property in the city of Ar- California and Washington
San Luis Obispo County royo Grande, about 15 miles state. Investigators conducted
Sheriff Ian Parkinson sched- (24 kilometers) south of the digs on the campus in 2016.
uled a news conference at 2 university, using ground-
p.m. at California Polytech- penetrating radar and cadaver Flores has remained mum
nic State University in San dogs. through the years, invoking
Luis Obispo, where Smart his Fifth Amendment right
was a student, to discuss Smart, 19, of Stockton, Cali- to not answer questions be-
“major developments in the fornia, vanished in May 1996 fore a grand jury and in a de-
investigation" into her disap- while returning to a dorm at position for a lawsuit that was
pearance. Cal Poly after a party. She was brought against him.
seen with Flores, who also