Sina Science and Technology News reported on the evening of April 17 that Apple's official website announced that it would increase its investment in clean energy and water resources projects around the world. Achieve the goal of achieving full carbon neutrality across the company's entire value chain by 2030.
More than 18 gigawatts of clean electricity are now used in global operations and manufacturing supply chains, more than three times the number in 2020. Apple will invest in new solar projects in the U.S. and Europe to help solve the problem of the electricity users use to charge and power Apple devices.
As part of its broader environmental efforts, Apple is moving forward with another ambitious goal: to compensate 100 percent of the fresh water consumed by its operations in water-stressed areas by 2030. This includes new collaborative projects to provide nearly 7 billion gallons (about 26.5 million tons) of freshwater over the next 20 years through the restoration of soil aquifers and rivers, as well as funding access to drinking water. Like clean energy, Apple has deepened its commitment to clean water across its supply chain: Apple suppliers have saved more than 12 billion gallons (45.42 million tons) of fresh water last year and 76 billion gallons (287 million tons) of fresh water since the company launched its Clean Water Program for Suppliers in 2013.
Adding new renewable energy capacity in many parts of the world
The electrical energy needed to make, charge and power Apple products is the largest part of Apple's overall carbon footprint. As part of Apple's 2030 goals, the company is calling on its global suppliers to use clean energy and make all Apple-related operations fully carbon neutral. To date, more than 320 suppliers have invested in this change, and these suppliers account for 95% of Apple's direct manufacturing spending. So far, 16.5 gigawatts of renewable energy have been put into operation in Apple's supply chain. Last year, more than 25.5 million megawatt hours of clean energy were produced in the supply chain, avoiding 18.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
To address the greenhouse gas emissions associated with customers' use of devices, Apple has pledged to compensate for all electricity used for charging with clean energy by 2030, including by investing in new renewable energy projects on a large scale in global markets. This commitment is part of a broader strategy to minimise emissions from the use of Apple products by improving efficiency, helping customers participate in decarbonizing the grid, and building clean power projects to maximize carbon reduction and social impact. In the U.S., Apple will invest in a series of solar projects under construction across Michigan, with 132 megawatts of clean energy coming online by later this year. In Spain, Apple has partnered with IB Vogt, an international solar energy development platform, to invest in a solar project. When commissioned at the end of 2024, the project will produce 105 MW of solar power.
In response to the company's growing operations in India, Apple has partnered with Clean Max, a leading renewable energy developer, to invest in six 14.4-megawatt rooftop solar projects. The increased capacity provides an on-premise solution to power Apple's offices, two retail stores in India, and other operations. In 2018, Apple achieved 100% renewable energy in its global business operations for the first time.
Apple's commitment to renewable energy unlocks new capacity in the global market. In 2018, Apple used an innovative approach to help 12 suppliers operating in China access renewable energy resources through the China Clean Energy Fund. The fund has now exceeded its target, investing in more than 1 gigawatt of new wind and solar projects in 14 provinces in China. These projects are expected to provide more than 2,400 gigawatt hours of renewable energy per year, equivalent to the electricity used by 2.5 million people in China.
Improve water resilience through nature-based solutions
Apple's goal is to promote water security in all regions where it operates through partnerships across the manufacturing supply chain and innovative long-term partnerships to restore ecosystems, meet community water needs, and improve climate resilience in watersheds. With the local impact of water scarcity being particularly significant, Apple has launched freshwater offsets in some of the most water-stressed areas where it operates, including southern and northern California, the Colorado River Basin in Arizona, and the Indian states of Telangana and Maharashtra. Modeled after the company's approach to sourcing renewable energy, Apple is pursuing innovative strategies and long-term partnerships to achieve water and water efficiency across the basin. So far in 2023, Apple has pledged more than $8 million to compensate for freshwater in water-stressed watersheds. The projects announced today are expected to deliver a total of 6.9 billion gallons (approximately 26.12 million tonnes) of water efficiency over the next 20 years.
In Northern California, Apple will work with River Partners to restore the natural functions of the 750-acre (about 3 square kilometers) alluvial plain where the Sacramento, Feather and Butte Creek rivers converge.
In Northern California, Apple will work with River Partners to restore the natural functions of the 750-acre (about 3 square kilometers) alluvial plain where the Sacramento, Feather and Butte Creek rivers converge. It is the largest river confluence in California and provides an important resting point for local Chinook salmon on their way to the Pacific Ocean. Restoring the area will require planting hundreds of thousands of native plants and reconnecting vast and historic alluvial plains to make the region and downstream communities more resilient to flooding caused by climate change. Apple's investment is expected to generate nearly 500 million gallons (about 1.89 million tons) of fresh water benefits over the next 20 years, dramatically reducing the region's water demand and replenishing the aquifer by promoting healthy flood patterns. The restoration of DosRiosNorte is also supported by funding from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California Department of Natural Resources, the California Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
- In the forests of the Colorado River Basin in Arizona, a crane lifts large pieces of wood.
- Looking down on a forest from the air, the trees on one side are not sparse, and the other is noticeably sparse.
In the Greater Phoenix area, Apple has partnered with the SaltRiver Project to protect about 30,000 acres (about 121 square kilometers) of forest at high risk of wildfires.
In the Greater Phoenix area, where Apple's Mesa data center is located, Apple has partnered with the SaltRiver Project (SRP) to protect about 30,000 acres (about 121 square kilometers) of forest at high risk of wildfires. Through a decade of planned active forest thinning in the Colorado River Basin, the project will help protect the watershed from wildfires and ensure that upstream reservoirs continue to benefit local communities. Apple's investment is the largest joint venture under SRP's Resilient Water and Forests Initiative, which is expected to deliver approximately 2 billion gallons (7.57 million tons) of water efficiency in the region.
Pause the video Forest LiDAR scanner scanner scanning
Lidar scanners can help track the deforestation project, which is expected to achieve approximately 2 billion gallons (7.57 million tons) of water efficiency in the region.
Last year, Apple achieved its goal of 100% water offsets for its operations in India through its ongoing partnership with the Uptime Catalyst Facility. In 2023, Apple's support provided communities with 23 million gallons (87,000 tons) of clean, affordable drinking water from more than 300 water outlets operated by local entrepreneurs in performance-based innovation programs. Progress continues in Southern California, another important region, where a project can save up to 21 million gallons (75,000 tons) of water annually by removing the invasive species of reed bamboo from the Los Angeles River basin.
In addition to pursuing watershed restoration and other nature-based water replenishment solutions in water-stressed areas, Apple is committed to smart water management across its business. In 2021, Apple's data center in Prineville, Oregon, became the first data center to be certified by the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) International Water Stewardship Standard, a trusted global framework for measuring responsible water stewardship. Since then, Apple has achieved certification for four more data centers and supports 20 supplier sites to achieve the certification. Over the past year, seven supplier sites in South India and more than 20 supplier sites near Shanghai and Suzhou in China have participated in water management training from AWS and other industry organizations.
Accelerate progress through green investments
In the U.S. and around the world, Apple's green bonds have helped secure these new investments. Last year, Apple used the proceeds of its 2019 green bonds for new clean energy projects, such as new solar projects in Michigan and IP Radian solar projects in Texas, to support supplier clean energy projects, and to invest in high-quality carbon removal projects through the Restore Fund. Since 2016, Apple has issued a cumulative $4.7 billion in green bonds, and has allocated about $3.4 billion to date.