Amazon’s Climate Pledge is taking on a higher profile as it welcomes the commitments from companies such as Microsoft, Unilever, Neste, Brooks, and others who were recently named as new signatories. bringing the total to 31 signatories. With the total now at 31 signatories since Amazon announced the Climate Pledge last year, the commitments aim to build a sustainable business for customers and the planet. The Pledge promises to meet the net-zero emissions goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change by 2040, 10 years ahead of schedule.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said in a statement that the companies are “sending an important signal to the market that there is significant and rapidly growing demand for technologies that can help us build a zero-carbon economy.”[1]
The inclusion of Microsoft is notable in part because the two Seattle-area tech giants have been on parallel tracks on the environment. Microsoft announced its own climate plan in January and followed up this summer by forming its own coalition, Transform to Net Zero.
Seattle-based Brooks, which specializes in running shoes and apparel, says it recently adopted a plan to reduce its carbon footprint in line with climate science, enabling it to commit to the goal of net-zero emissions by 2040.
Amazon’s Climate Pledge is part of a broader set of environmental initiatives from the company, including a $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund.
The company has its work cut out for itself in trying to meet the goals. An Amazon sustainability report this summer disclosed that its carbon footprint had increased by 15% year-over-year. However, emissions did grow at a slower pace than net sales. The group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice started publicly pushing the company to address climate issues beginning in 2018. You can read more about Amazon’s Climate Pledge here.
[1] Bishop, T (2020, December 9). Microsoft, Brooks, Unilever and others join Amazon’s Climate Pledge, topping 30 signatories. GeekWire. https://www.geekwire.com/2020/microsoft-brooks-unilever-others-join-amazons-climate-pledge-topping-30-signatories/
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