AFP
Washington
Amazon chief Jeff Bezos pledged on Thursday the US technology and retail giant would become carbon neutral by 2040 and encourage other firms to do the same, in a bid to help meet the goals of the Paris climate accord 10 years early.
"We want to use our scope and our scale to lead the way,” Bezos told a news conference in the US capital, aiming to shake off the firm’s reputation as a laggard on environmental issues.
Amazon announced its "Climate Pledge” initiative and said it would be its first signatory as part of an effort to reduce emissions in line with a 2050 goal for carbon neutrality set by the Paris agreement.
"We’re done being in the middle of the herd on this issue,” Bezos said. "If a company with as much physical infrastructure as Amazon -- which delivers more than 10 billion items a year -- can meet the Paris agreement 10 years early, then any company can.”
Bezos said he had spoken with other CEOs of global companies, and noted "I’m finding a lot of interest in joining the pledge.”
As part of the ramped-up effort, Bezos said Amazon had agreed to purchase 100,000 electric delivery vans from vehicle startup Rivian, to help cut its carbon footprint. Amazon previously announced a $440 million investment in Rivian.
The first vans will hit the road in 2021, with the fleet to be fully operational in 2030. Amazon also pledged to invest $100 million on reforestation efforts in cooperation with the Nature Conservancy.
Washington
Amazon chief Jeff Bezos pledged on Thursday the US technology and retail giant would become carbon neutral by 2040 and encourage other firms to do the same, in a bid to help meet the goals of the Paris climate accord 10 years early.
"We want to use our scope and our scale to lead the way,” Bezos told a news conference in the US capital, aiming to shake off the firm’s reputation as a laggard on environmental issues.
Amazon announced its "Climate Pledge” initiative and said it would be its first signatory as part of an effort to reduce emissions in line with a 2050 goal for carbon neutrality set by the Paris agreement.
"We’re done being in the middle of the herd on this issue,” Bezos said. "If a company with as much physical infrastructure as Amazon -- which delivers more than 10 billion items a year -- can meet the Paris agreement 10 years early, then any company can.”
Bezos said he had spoken with other CEOs of global companies, and noted "I’m finding a lot of interest in joining the pledge.”
As part of the ramped-up effort, Bezos said Amazon had agreed to purchase 100,000 electric delivery vans from vehicle startup Rivian, to help cut its carbon footprint. Amazon previously announced a $440 million investment in Rivian.
The first vans will hit the road in 2021, with the fleet to be fully operational in 2030. Amazon also pledged to invest $100 million on reforestation efforts in cooperation with the Nature Conservancy.