Apple VP slams Trump’s EPA over lack of transparency

By

Jackson
Apple should focus on building durable products, Lisa Jackson says.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s VP of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson has criticized the Trump administration for hurting the Environmental Protection Agency. Jackson worked as an administrator for the EPA during the first term of President Obama’s presidency, prior to taking her current job at Apple.

“The EPA has been run by Democrats, by Republicans, but has never, in its history — that is 40+ years old — been run by someone who seems to be determined to do the one thing that could destroy its credibility, which is not making it transparent,” Jackson told the audience at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference.

Jackson didn’t spell out her exact criticisms, but Trump’s commitment to the environment has been questioned multiple times since his inauguration. Earlier this year, the EPA’s website was updated to remove information on climate change.

Apple and the environment

Jackson also discussed Apple’s commitment to the environment, and tried to square this with the company’s apparent lack of interest in making repairable devices — instead pushing users to replace them.

“I don’t think you can say repairability equals longevity,” Jackson said. Her own preference, she said, is for building durable devices that need neither unnecessary repairing or replacing. In addition, she said that Apple is focused on finding new sustainable materials for future iPhones. “We’re looking at rare earths and other materials,” she noted. You know, there’s 100+ materials in an iPhone. We want to figure out how to move those back into the [supply] chain.”

In addition to her work at Apple, Lisa Jackson it also part of an advisory committee intended to make automation-related recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation — concerning technologies such as self-driving cars.

Source: TechCrunch

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