Kellogg Co.: We will continue to 'engage' others on climate change

Dillon Davis | Battle Creek Enquirer

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: The U.S. will withdraw from the Paris Accord President Donald Trump has announced the United States will withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.

Kellogg Co. said it will continue to engage nongovernmental organizations, foreign governments and consumers on climate change in the aftermath of President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement.

Trump said Thursday the U.S. is pulling out of the agreement to curb global warming because it would cost Americans jobs. He called the deal a "self-inflicted, major economic wound" but added that he may seek to re-negotiate the agreement to "see if we can make a deal that's fair."

"We're getting out," Trump said. "And we will start to renegotiate, and we'll see if there's a better deal. If we can, great. If we can't, that's fine."

The Battle Creek-based maker of breakfast foods and snacks was one of 360 companies who wrote an open letter to then-President-elect Trump in November, urging him to keep the U.S. in the agreement.

Companies such as Nike, Hewlett Packard and Starbucks wrote in the letter that the accord "will enable and encourage businesses and investors to turn the billions of dollars in existing low-carbon investments into the trillions of dollars the world needs."

Read more:

U.S. withdrawing from Paris climate agreement, Trump announces

Asked about Trump's decision Thursday, Kellogg spokesperson Kris Charles said the company stands by its commitments to combat climate change.

"We believe in providing sustainable food for all," Charles said, "by helping to improve the climate resiliency of our farming families and their communities, giving our foods the best possible start by protecting lands where our ingredients are grown and by serving as a leader in food security."

Charles added that the Kellogg is able to do so by "reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our operations."

The 2016 letter falls largely in line with Kellogg's sustainability policy, released in 2015, in which the company said it is "committed to doing what’s right for the environment and society."

With Trump's decision, the U.S. is one of just three countries — along with Syria and Nicaragua — to opt out of the voluntary agreement, first entered into by President Obama last year.

The withdrawal process reportedly could take nearly four years to complete.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.

Contact Battle Creek Enquirer income and opportunity reporter Dillon Davis at 269-966-0698 or dwdavis@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DillonDavis