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America’s Tech Giants Address Climate Change, Global Warming With Bold Initiatives in 2020

Global warming?  Well, we have to say that it certainly is a hot summer in many parts of the world (north of the Equator) and the U.S. National Hurricane Center has a large list of names for the storms to come.  That’s Arthur and Bertha on to Vicky and Wilfred – 21 named storms so far, with “Isaias” whipping through and causing hundreds of thousands of homes and business to lose power this past week in the NY region. And it was not even a full hurricane in the U.S. Northeast!

And during this week, many communities in the American Midwest lost electric power. Not be provincial here – in the Eastern North Pacific there are storms to come named Amanda and Boris on to Yoland and Zeke.  Central Pacific – Akoni and Ema, and Ulana and Wale are possibly coming your way.  So, can we say this is an effect of global warming or not?  Let’s say…yes, with a number of contributing factors. 

Like steadily rising Greenhouse Gas Emissions (think of methane) drifting up into the atmosphere and over time, changing weather patterns which created more super storms. More torrential rain coming down (hello, Houston and New Orleans!) 

In the U.S.A. major companies have been steadily addressing their carbon emissions and putting in place important programs to reduce emissions, adding renewable energy sources, taking steps to conserve electric power use, and more. 

But if you are a company using a lot of power…and constantly adding power…there are ever more challenges to address.  That’s the case as the world moves online for many activities in business, education, healthcare, investing, shopping, and more.  And coming online -- more AI, robotics, self-driving vehicles, machine-to-machine learning, more and more communication…5G systems…all coming our way.

Over the past few days the major U.S.-headquartered, powerhouse tech firms have been announcing their plans to address GHG emissions…and in the process companies put significant strategies and initiatives in place to protect the planet and do their part of address climate change.  Eight companies launched the Transform to Net Zero coalition, to accelerate action toward a net zero carbon economy. (A.P. Moeller-Maersk, Danone, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Natura & Co, Nike, Starbucks, Unilever, Wipro, along with the Environmental Defense Fund).

The examples for you this week are familiar names in the U.S. corporate sector. In the Top Stories line up: Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Apple/Google.

Top Stories

Progress on our goal to be carbon negative by 2030
(Source: Microsoft)
By year 2030, MSFT intends to be carbon negative and by 2050, will remove from the environment more carbon than the company ever emitted since its founding.  The company launched a new environmental sustainability initiative in January 2020 focused on carbon, water, waste and biodiversity. 

Microsoft commits to achieve ‘zero waste’ goals by 2030
(Source: Microsoft)
By the year 2030, Microsoft will divert at least 90% of the solid waste headed to landfills and incineration from its campuses and datacenters, manufacture 100% recyclable Surface devices, use 100% recyclable packaging, and achieve 75% diversion of construction and demolition waste for all projects.

Facebook to buy 170MW of windpower in landmark renewables deal 
(Source: Power Engineering International)
Renewable energy developer Apex Clean Energy has announced a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Facebook for approximately 170MW of renewable power from its Lincoln Land Wind project in the US state of Illinois, making the social media giant Apex’s largest corporate customer by megawatt.

Apple commits to be 100 percent carbon neutral for its supply chain and products by 2030 
(Source: Apple)
Already carbon neutral today for corporate emissions worldwide, Apple plans to bring its entire carbon footprint to net zero 20 years sooner than IPCC targets. That “footprint” includes the company’s supply chain and products… every device sold! (Apple is already carbon neutral for its global corporate operations.)

Alphabet issues sustainability bonds to support environmental and social initiatives
(Source: Google)
As part of a $10 billion debt offering, Alphabet has issued $5.75 billion in sustainability bonds -- the largest sustainability or green bond by any company in history. During the past three years Google has matched the company’s entire electricity consumption with renewables…and has been carbon neutral since 2007.

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Sustainability Standard Setters & Policy Makers
SEC, SASB, GRI, IIRC, FSB-TCFD

• A cohesive and connected future for reporting in Europe(Source: IIRC)
• Biodiversity High on Standards Agenda(Source: ISO)

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ESG / Sustainable & Responsible Investment
Asset Owners & Managers, Ratings Agencies

• ISS Unveils Innovative & Comprehensive ESG Fund Ratings Solution(Source: ISS)
• Global Investors Must Step Up Their Game on Climate Risk Management(Source: Ceres)
• ESCAP Publishes Guidance for Estimating SDG Investment Needs(Source: IISD)

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Corporate Sustainability / ESG
Disclosure, Reporting, Corporate Initiatives

• Report: How Corporations are Managing Risk, Resiliency and Sustainability(Source: GreenBiz)
• Does Climate Change Top Corporate ESG Agendas in 2020?(Source: 3BL Media)
• Understanding and Communicating Value Creation: The Role of the CFO and Finance Function(Source: IIRC)
• Climate Change Challenges for Financial Sector Players and the Companies They Provide With Capital-Measuring and Managing Risk(Source: 3BL Media)
• Could climate become the weak link in your supply chain?(Source: McKinsey)

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Stakeholders That Matter
Developments, Trends, Corporate Actions Affecting Stakeholders

• Commenters Hammer DOL on Proposed ESG Rule(Source: 401K Specialist Mag)
• Nestlé’s KitKat drops Fairtrade commitment, set to impact 27,000 cocoa & sugar farmers in Ivory Coast, Fiji & Malawi(Source: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre)
• Core Elements of an EU Regulation on Mandatory Human Rights & Environmental Due Diligence(Source: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre)

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Sustainability Data in Focus
Developments in Data, Research Trends

• WTO, World Bank Report Examines Trade’s Impact on Gender Equality(Source: IISD)
• New Data Demonstrate the Progress of Farmer-Led Stewardship in the Chesapeake Bay Region(Source: Sustainable Brands)
• The digital divide worsens the inequitable impacts of the climate crisis(Source: GreenBiz)

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Global Sustainability : Forward Momentum!
News & Developments of Note

• Japan offshore wind: The ideal moment to build a vibrant industry(Source: McKinsey)
• G20 bets on fossil fuels for post-Covid-19 economy recovery plans(Source: openDemocracy)
• Chancellor Merkel supports German due diligence law, following disappointing NAP monitoring results(Source: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre)

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