Apple pushes new China clean energy programs to help suppliers become carbon neutral

Just a few days after CEO Tim Cook joined the Council for Sustainable Urbanizationto fight climate change in China, Apple this evening has revealed a handful of new programs in China that promote the use of clean energy. Apple says that the programs will help avoid 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution in China between now and 2020, which is the equivalent of removing 4 million vehicles from the road for one year.

Apple also says that its construction of 40 megawatts of solar projects in the Sichuan Province is complete. Thanks to this, Apple’s offices and retail stores in China are all now carbon neutral. Tim Cook noted of this, saying that the transition to a green economy is a challenging, but necessary, task:

“Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and the time for action is now,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The transition to a new green economy requires innovation, ambition and purpose. We believe passionately in leaving the world better than we found it and hope that many other suppliers, partners and other companies join us in this important effort.”

Moving ahead, Apple today revealed that it plans to build more than 200 megawatts of solar projects in the north, east, and south grid regions of China. This effort will produce the equivalent of of the energy required by more than 265,000 homes in China. The effort will begin to offset the energy used by Apple’s supply chain in China, as well.

Apple today also announced that it is beginning to work with its suppliers to make them more energy efficient and carbon neutral. Apple will work with suppliers to install more than 2 gigawatts of new clean energy in “the coming years.” The company will provide hands-on assistance to suppliers, as well, in ares like energy efficiency audits and regulatory guidance.

Finally, thanks to help from Apple, Foxconn will begin construction of 400 megawatts of solar by 2018, starting in the Henan Province. Foxconn has agreed to generate as much clean energy as its Zhengzhou factory consumes in final production of the iPhone.

Apple’s VP of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson had the following to say regarding Apple’s efforts at improving the climate:

“Being responsible, protecting air and water, and driving clean energy are at the heart of Apple’s commitment to China,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “These projects go beyond Apple’s operations in China to help our suppliers adopt clean renewable energy.”

All in all, Apple sys that it is powering 100 percent of its operations in China and the United States with clean energy, and 87 percent of its worldwide operations. Full press release below:

Apple Launches New Clean Energy Programs in China To Promote Low-Carbon Manufacturing and Green Growth

Apple Now Generating Clean Energy for 100% of its Operations in China

Apple® today announced two new programs aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of its manufacturing partners in China. The programs will avoid over 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution in the country between now and 2020, equivalent to taking nearly 4 million passenger vehicles off the road for one year.

Apple also announced that construction on 40 megawatts of solar projects in the Sichuan Province is now complete. These solar installations produce more than the total amount of electricity used by Apple’s offices and retail stores in China, making Apple’s operations carbon neutral in China.

“Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and the time for action is now,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The transition to a new green economy requires innovation, ambition and purpose. We believe passionately in leaving the world better than we found it and hope that many other suppliers, partners and other companies join us in this important effort.”

First, Apple is significantly expanding its clean-energy investments in China. Apple plans to build more than 200 megawatts of solar projects in the northern, eastern and southern grid regions of China, which will produce the equivalent of the energy used by more by than 265,000 Chinese homes in a year and will begin to offset the energy used in Apple’s supply chain.

Second, Apple is launching a new initiative to drive its manufacturing partners to become more energy efficient and to use clean energy for their manufacturing operations. Apple will partner with suppliers in China to install more than 2 gigawatts of new clean energy in the coming years.

Apple also will share best practices in procuring clean energy and building high-quality renewable energy projects, and provide hands-on assistance to some suppliers in areas like energy efficiency audits, regulatory guidance and building strong partnerships to bring new clean energy projects to China.

As part of Apple’s industry-leading program, Foxconn will construct 400 megawatts of solar, starting in the Henan Province, by 2018. Foxconn has committed to generate as much clean energy as its Zhengzhou factory consumes in final production of iPhone.

“We are excited to embark on this initiative with Apple. Our companies share a vision for driving sustainability and I hope that this renewable energy project will serve as a catalyst for continued efforts to promote a greener ecosystem in our industry and beyond,” said Terry Gou, founder and CEO of Foxconn Technology Group. “Sustainability is a core pillar in Foxconn’s strategy and we are committed to investing in green manufacturing.”

“Being responsible, protecting air and water, and driving clean energy are at the heart of Apple’s commitment to China,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “These projects go beyond Apple’s operations in China to help our suppliers adopt clean renewable energy.”

Apple has taken significant steps to protect the environment by transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy. Today the company is powering 100 percent of its operations in China and the US, and more than 87 percent of its worldwide operations, with renewable energy.

Learn more about Apple’s environmental efforts at www.apple.com/environment.

Apple in China
Apple operates 19 corporate offices and 24 retail stores in Greater China, directly employing 10,000 people. In total, Apple has helped create and support over 4.4 million jobs in China, including at least 1.4 million iOS app developer jobs and other positions related to the iOS ecosystem.

Developers in China have earned more than $4 billion through the worldwide sale of apps on the App Store®, with over half of that amount paid in the last 12 months alone.