The Paris Agreement has been a vital milestone set across nations to strengthen plans to fight climate change. With COP26 fast approaching, the UN has said action in 2020 is crucial to avert runaway global warming.
So… what are the big industry players doing to reduce their carbon footprint?
Apple: In July 2020, they became carbon neutral. Now, every apple device sold by 2030 will have a net zero carbon impact. Additionally, they have a target for 2030 to reduce emissions by 75%, as well as a 25% reduction via innovative carbon solutions.
Amazon: In June 2020, they contributed $2 billion towards their Climate Pledge Fund in order to invest in companies that are supporting a transition to a low carbon economy.
Disney: Disney have set a reduction target of 50% in net emissions by 2020 based on a 2012 baseline.
Facebook: Proposed a commitment to a 75% emission reduction by the end of 2020.
Google: They are the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world.
McDonald’s: McDonald’s have put in place a 31% reduction in emissions intensity (per metric ton of food and packaging) across their supply chain by 2030 from 2015 levels. From this, they expect to prevent 150 million metric tons of C02 equivalents (CO2e) from being released into the atmosphere by 2030.
Microsoft: Announced their goal to become carbon negative by 2030 in January this year, offsetting their footprint since it was founded in 1975.
Though these commitments and targets towards reducing emissions are a step in the right direction, there is still much more that companies and individuals can do to create bigger shifts in behaviour and further reduce emissions in a move to a more sustainable future.