Yesterday while on stage at the D:11, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the company had hired former US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lisa Jackson to lead the company’s green movement, reporting directly to Cook himself.
In an email to POLITICO, Jackson sent a statement via her iPhone noting she was “impressed” with Apple’s environmental track record and is “thrilled” to join the company:
“I’m incredibly impressed with Apple’s commitment to the environment and I’m thrilled to be joining the team,”
“Apple has shown how innovation can drive real progress by removing toxics from its products, incorporating renewable energy in its data center plans, and continually raising the bar for energy efficiency in the electronics industry,”
“I look forward to helping support and promote these efforts, as well as leading new ones in the future aimed at protecting the environment.”
Greenpeace, a staunch critic of Apple commented on the hire today to Forbes and essentially called the hiring of the ex-EPA chief a “bold move” as it can bring further clean energy changes to America, according to Gary Cook, a senior analyst with Greenpeace:
“Apple has made a bold move in hiring Lisa Jackson, a proven advocate with a track record of combating toxic waste and the dirty energy that causes global warming, two of Apple’s biggest challenges as it continues to grow,”
“Jackson can make Apple the top environmental leader in the tech sector by helping the company use its influence to push electric utilities and governments to provide the clean energy that both Apple and America need right now.”
Jackson led the EPA from 2009-2013, a role nominated by then President-elect Barack Obama in 2008.
