Activists Call on Toyota to End Greenwashing Tactics at Climate Week
NEW YORK – At an event hosted by Toyota Motor Corp., part of the annual New York Climate Week, activists from Public Citizen called on Toyota to end the company’s greenwashing tactics and pushed the company to continue making progress on electrifying its vehicle fleet. The activists disrupted remarks from Toyota Motors North America lobbyist Tom Stricker, who was slated to speak about Toyota’s efforts to be a leader on climate change.
“Toyota should be ashamed of itself for greenwashing its abysmal climate record,” said Adam Zuckerman, senior clean vehicles campaigner with Public Citizen’s Climate Program. “How can the automaker keep a straight face while it funds a small army of climate change denying lawmakers and lobbies to repeal our emissions and fuel economy standards? Toyota is not a climate success story—it’s a cautionary tale of how a once-green darling became a climate obstructionist.”
Ahead of Stricker’s remarks, activists placed hundreds of reports under seats in the auditorium. The report, whose cover read “Toyota: Moving Forward Together?” detailed how over the last three electoral cycles, Toyota has emerged as the top auto industry financier of climate deniers, financing 207 of their congressional campaigns.
During the event, the activists unfurled a banner reading “Toyota: stop driving climate denial!” and chanted “Hey Toyota, stop toying with the climate!”
Photos and video from the event are available here. For photos, please credit Erik Rivas.
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