The 3 largest US headquartered auto manufacturers paid their highest compensated executive about 35,555 times what they paid their lowest paid employee or contractor, on average over the last 6 years, making the US car industry one of, if not the most, income unequal industries in the entire world. Of course, this average is as dramatic as it is because of Tesla’s 2018 compensation package for CEO Elon Musk, which came in at a record breaking 2.284 billion dollars, more than 100,000 Tesla’s verifiable lowest paid employee or contractor. 


Retired President and CEO

Board Chair and Chief ExecutiveOfficer

In a decade that has seen dramatic ups and downs for the US auto industry, involving massive government support programs for all three of the remaining US headquarter manufacturers, its perplexing, in the least, to witness the industry lead the charge on extreme wealth concentration and inequality. Between 2008 and 2010, US taxpayers spent tens of billions propping up and supporting Ford, General Motors and Chrysler (now a division of Stellantis in the Netherlands). And while Tesla did not directly benefit from industry bailout funds, the company did receive its own half billion dollar US Department of Energy guaranteed loan on top of a couple decades worth of government tax incentives for the purchase of its primary products. In short, a significant amount of corporate welfare has gone into creating one of history’s most income unbalanced industries.

Income inequality at 3 largest US car makers is real and lopsided

Just 2 of the United States’ 15 largest corporate food stores, Walmart and Target, have committed to all 3 major, independent climate initiatives tracked by Spendwell for this ranking. These same 2 companies are the only 2 out of the largest 15 food stores to commit to 100% renewable energy through the RE100 initiative and are 2 of the 3 companies, along with CVS, to fully commit to taking decisive climate change action through Science Based Targets. Two more food markets, Amazon and Albertsons, have committed to participating in Science Based Targets, but have yet to actually set any targets through the initiative. The overwhelming majority of the United States’ 15 largest corporate food stores are not participating in any of the 3 major, independent climate initiatives currently tracked by Spendwell.

Grocery stores and other food markets play a big role in driving the climate emergency, a role that gets far less attention than other industries and sectors. These markets serve as a nexus for food consumption, which means they also serve as a nexus for much of the country’s commercial transportation, personal transportation and industrial agriculture - all of which are leading, negative climate impacts in and of themselves. Despite serving as an effective linchpin in the carbon economy, few major US food markets are taking on leadership roles tackling the climate emergency.

Largest food stores failing to take on climate emergency, climate leadership

Over the last 5 years, only 1 of the 10 largest commercial banks headquartered in the United States, American Express, managed to pay combined federal, state and foreign income taxes at or above just the federal statutory corporate income tax rate. The average rate paid by these 10 companies was less than 15% with 2 financial institutions, US Bank and Truist, paying an income tax rate less than 10%.

The US federal government has subsidized the American financial services industry, including its biggest banks, to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, if not trillions, over the last decade and a half. 'Too big to fail' is still a commonly used descriptor while the country's largest banks have realized their most profitable decade in generations. Despite the largess afforded these largest financial institutions, most can’t quite seem to pay their statutory income tax obligations. Or even pay something close to what they are obliged.


Most big US commercial banks failing to pay statutory federal income tax

Most major e-commerce retailers have made commitment statements about climate emergency action, but only four, Apple, eBay, Target and Walmart, are demonstrating leadership by committing to and participating in all three of the world’s major, independent climate impact initiatives with a commerce focus. Of the 10 largest e-commerce retailers in the United States, just over half actively respond to the annual CDP climate survey, half have committed to 100 percent renewable energy through RE100 and just half have managed to set targets with the all important Science Based Targets initiative. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce retail sales have risen <a href="https://unctad.org/news/global-e-commerce-jumps-267-trillion-covid-19-boosts-online-sales">faster and higher than at any other point in history</a>, sending fleets of freighters, jets and trucks crisscrossing the oceans and continents. Sales are up and so is pollution. The last two years have seen a dramatic increase in the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions from e-commerce retailers, their suppliers and delivery partners. The pandemic has also seen a dramatic increase in cardboard and other paper-based packaging, certainly pushing the amount of cardboard used for retail packaging well beyond the <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/40560641/can-online-retail-solve-its-packaging-problem">billion-trees-a-year level</a> reached just prior to the pandemic.

Apple, eBay, Target and Walmart are the major e-commerce retailers ranking highest on climate emergency leadership

Board Chair and CEO

While the largest food and beverage companies operating in the US all actively report on their climate impact to CDP, several are failing to fully take on climate emergency leadership by choosing not participating in the RE100 initiative or Science Based Targets. Two of these conglomerates, Kraft and Associated British Foods, do not participate in either the RE100 or the Science Based Targets initiatives.

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