Apple executives are joining top brass from 12 other major U.S. corporations at the White House today to announce a $140 billion pledge in new investments to decrease their carbon footprints.
The 13 companies which also includes Microsoft and Google, are joining the Obama Administration’s push to lead the effort against climate change ahead of the the United Nations climate-change summit in Paris later this year by launching the American Business Act on Climate Pledge.
By signing the pledge, companies are voicing their support for a strong outcome in Paris, while also setting an example for other companies to follow. A second round of pledges are expected to be announced later this year, but the initial group’s investment of $140 billion should produce 1,600 megawatts of renewable energy.
Companies have also set specific goals to cut emissions as much as 50%, purchase 100% renewable energy, and pursue zero net deforestation in supply chains. For it’s part, Apple is already running on 100% renewable energy, and will bring 280 megawatts of power online by the end of 2016. The iPhone-maker has also reduced carbon emissions from corporate facilities, data centers and Apple Stores by 48% since 2011.
Other companies joining Apple in the $140 billion pledge include Berkshire Hathaway, Goldman Sachs, Wal-Mart, UPS, PepsiCo, General Motors, Alcoa, Bank of America, and Cargill.
Source: White House
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
6 responses to “Apple pledges support for massive climate change pledge”
Hey Buster, there are four typos in your last sentence: Berkshite Hathaway (haha!), Golman Sachs, PepsiSo, and General Motos. Just thought I’d be helpful and point them out!
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Too late. 40% of the earth’s population lives within 100 miles of the ocean. When seas rise and that population is displaced, where will they live?
Answer: Your living room.
Get it?
what a crock. Frank Zappa was right, scientists are wrong, hydrogen cant be the most abundant element in the universe, has to be stupidity.
I think it’s great that more companies are getting on the renewable energy bandwagon. The planet needs serious development of solar and wind energy systems to replace coal-fired power plants and nuclear energy plants, as we can do with a lot less pollution. However, I do NOT concur with the “climate change due to technology” theory. A single large forest fire creates more damaging air pollution and climate change than over 50-100 years of human technology. I DO think that climate changes are cyclical and that our planet regularly goes through hot and cold periods every few thousand years due to the output of the sun, with or without Man’s help. All that said, clean and non-polluting energy is a very welcome concept. I look forward to the day when the possibilities for all Fukushima-type accidents will be eliminated because all nuclear power plants have been shut down. I love that Apple is helping to spearhead renewable energy systems and that that they now operate on 100% renewable energy. I’m very proud of Apple’s forward thinking and showing other companies the way to do it with elegance and panache.
So what. The 140 billion would have gone a long way to reduce poverty in the US and Obama should have thought about that before rubbing shoulders at farce like they just held.