Autodesk Parries Criticism Its Design Tools Fuel Climate Change

Autodesk Inc. is proud of its bona fides as a clean company – it reports dwindling emissions and invests millions in technology aimed at improving the environment.

There’s one hitch: its software is used to design and operate machinery for the biggest coal mine complex in Europe. Production at the pits, owned by German energy giant RWE AG, is being expanded ahead of a 2030 phase-out of the highly polluting energy source. Climate activist Greta Thurnberg was detained there in January at a protest.

Artist Joanie Lemercier was at that protest, too. He’s been in a multiyear campaign against Autodesk — ...