Apple CEO Tim Cook Urges Action on Climate Change at United Nations Summit

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook today delivered a brief speech during the 2020 Climate Ambition Summit, stressing that leaders of nations and companies around the world have a "burden to act" to address climate change during this "moment of historic urgency." The summit is co-hosted by the United Nations, United Kingdom, and France.

In his prepared remarks, Cook highlighted Apple's environmental initiatives, including its global facilities being powered by 100% renewable energy and its ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its entire supply chain and product usage by 2030.

Cook's full speech:

Thank you to all of the advocates and leaders joining us today. This is an important gathering, and we at Apple don't take our presence in this group lightly. We wear it as a badge of duty. At this moment of historic urgency, every leader of nations, of companies, and of communities has a particular burden to act. This year, Apple has accelerated our progress. We became carbon neutral for our worldwide corporate emissions. Already, we're helping 95 of our suppliers transition to 100% renewable energy, a number we continue to grow. We've unveiled a plan, unrivalled in its ambition, to achieve carbon neutrality for our entire supply chain and product usage by 2030 — 20 years before the goal set by the United Nations. We see every part of our device lifecycle, from design, to manufacturing, to durability and repair, to recycling, as an opportunity for environmental innovation, moving us towards our goal of a closed-loop supply chain. The choice between the bottom line and the future of our planet is a false one, and each new green innovation offers the proof. This is no time for changes of the margins. Together, we can transition to a carbon-neutral economy and usher in a new era of inclusive opportunity. This is a moment for ambition, cooperation, and leadership. We at Apple are proud to be your partner, and we call on companies and governments around the world to do all we can to make 2021 the year we turn the corner for good.

Last month, the UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee said tech companies like Apple are contributing to e-waste by making their products difficult to repair, and charging expensive repair fees. The committee added that the current business model for electronics is "reliant on continuous consumption, a throwaway culture and short-lived products," and called on tech companies to embrace environmentally-friendly business models.

In a statement, Apple said that it was "surprised and disappointed" with the Environmental Audit Committee's report, arguing that it "does not reflect any of Apple's efforts to conserve resources and protect the planet we all share."

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook Urges Action on Climate Change at United Nations Summit

 

[ilikewhey]

apple is surprised that their airpods are disposables?

 

[macintoshmac]

So, just marketing.

They produce the costliest disposables on the planet, promote annual upgrade culture and are talking about climate change.

 

[Mdracer]

I applaud Apple and their efforts to reduce their footprint but...

 

[Morgenland]

I applaud Apple.

Saying the right words is the first step to doing the right thing.
(And just the sneering people will now call me naive.)

Apple has leadership and tries to use it for good. That's new. Finally, light again!

'A throwaway culture and short-lived products.'
Once again, the Brits have no idea.
During Wintel era, you needed a new huge PC every 2 years, because otherwise the current OS didn't work anymore. Apple clearly does it differently. And thus more resource-friendly and consumer-friendly. The UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee didn't get that right.

The people who mock Apple have long since resigned themselves to the victory of dark; worse, they take it for granted and secretly applaud it.
If you don't invent international laws, but let everyone do everything, liberated evil always wins.
Opportunity makes thieves.
On all levels.

 

[JosephAW]

Apple is helping to keep landfill empty by releasing iOS updates for devices as old as an iPhone 5S.

 

[Infinite Vortex]

Dear Tim Apple… if I want to stop climate change I should probably stop buying your stuff in the way you want me to be buying your stuff!

 

[SWAON]

Before having Climate Change, first we need to address the People Change, the Government Change, the Economic Change and etc. Otherwise, there won't be any change at all, only stimulative pretending.

 

[NachoGrande]

What a fraud, they trash the planet via China and act green in the US. Maybe he can stop unneeded iPhone production every year.

 

[ScottishDuck]

The fact of the matter is that those who wish to make a profit will always exploit something or someone.

 

[jz0309]

all the countries, corporations etc are looking for growth, more this, more that ... and fewer emissions, and fewer waste ... I don't see convergence, even on the horizon ...

 

[4jasontv]

All market leaders should support environmental regulations because it increases barriers to entry. Also, because it's good. But, let's not pretend like this doesn't help deter competition.

 

[bklement]

Then scrap the magsafe and wireless charging. And implement DisplayPort daisy chaining already, to reduce the manufacture of unnecessary dongles. Plus make Pencil 1 work on USB-C iPads. (No, I don't care about they can't charge it. I've never charged my pencil with the tablet anyway.)

 

[Morgenland]

Then scrap the magsafe and wireless charging. And implement DisplayPort daisy chaining already, to reduce the manufacture of unnecessary dongles. Plus make Pencil 1 work on USB-C iPads. (No, I don't care about they can't charge it. I've never charged my pencil with the tablet anyway.)

I agree on magsafe and DisplayPort.

 

[needsomecoffee]

The King Of Logistics gets Apple inventory costs to zero by shipping every product they make using air planes. Of course those gigantic carbon emissions are "spent" by third party shipping companies so Tim Apple does not have to record them.

 

[HiVolt]

Yeah, a company that produces hundreds of millions of practically unrepairable stuff outside of their controlled and expensive repair facilities talks about climate change.

Not to mention they are actively fighting against right to repair and independent repair shops with lowball tactics like getting customs to seize spare parts shipments.

 

[FightTheFuture]

With all the options to recycle electronics, I’m surprised the majority of folks in here are tossing them right in the landfill. The e-recycle bin is right at the front of Target.

 

[justperry]

Sorry Tim, the pessimist in me says we are already doomed.

Annual output of all consumables is still rising, world population is still rising, we will run out of resources one day if we don't turn this consumerism around, life stops if there are no more resources.

 

[EdT]

I think Apple has plenty to answer for, environmentally, but their phones typically last the longest while still being able to upgrade compared to any of the other US phone suppliers. 4 or 5 years doesn't sound like much but Samsung just promised that their new phones would be able to use the next 3 upgrades. I don't think anyone else has matched the support Apple has given for their phones for as long. I think it's more of a statement of how much less the entire industry is doing rather than how correct Apple's approach is.

I would like to see a modular upgradable phone. I'd also like to be given $200 million dollars. I'm more likely to see the second than the first.

 

[justperry]

With all the options to recycle electronics, I’m surprised the majority of folks in here are tossing them right in the landfill. The e-recycle bin is right at the front of Target.

Ha, you really believe that, not me, pretty sure they can't recycle rare earth metals in lots of tiny component cost-effectively.

 

[Kylo83]

didn't the UN say many times the world was gonna be in trouble and it never was?

 

[laz232]

I applaud Apple.

Saying the right words is the first step to doing the right thing.
(And just the sneering people will now call me naive.)

Apple has leadership and tries to use it for good. That's new. Finally, light again!

'A throwaway culture and short-lived products.'
Once again, the Brits have no idea.
During Wintel era, you needed a new huge PC every 2 years, because otherwise the current OS didn't work anymore. Apple clearly does it differently. And thus more resource-friendly and consumer-friendly. The UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee didn't get that right.

The people who mock Apple have long since resigned themselves to the victory of dark; worse, they take it for granted and secretly applaud it.
If you don't invent international laws, but let everyone do everything, liberated evil always wins.
Opportunity makes thieves.
On all levels.

I don't know what era you are referring to about the "Wintel" - Since about 2010 there has been little need to upgrade for day-day office and internet browsing.

In the 80s and 90s the pace of technology was so rapid that real leaps were occurring that drove sales.

"Saying the right words is the first step to doing the right thing."
No it's not - doing the right thing is the first step. Hollow words from Tim "- say anthing for the stockholders" Cook is just corporate BS that the plebs fall for.

"Apple has leadership and tries to use it for good. That's new. Finally, light again!"
You believe PR press releases...?

Apple equipment has become anything but environmentally friendly: unservicable, cannot upgrade anything - not even RAM or a HDD / SSD. No user replaceable batteries.

"Once again, the Brits have no idea."
Not sure what enlightened country you live in? (Not that I'm British, so I don't care, just curious about the scorn)

"If you don't invent international laws, but let everyone do everything, liberated evil always wins."
Who do you think writes (and lobbies for) international laws?

"We all know what to do, but we don't know how to get re-elected once we have done it." Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg and President of the European Commission

 

[markosb]

I would rather it be action the China problem, but Climate is important too.

 

[laz232]

Ha, you really believe that, not me, pretty sure they can't recycle rare earth metals in lots of tiny component cost-effectively.

They used to ship them to China to burn them in open fires (at great health costs to the local communities):

The world's largest electronic-waste dump looks like a post-apocalyptic nightmare

This Chinese province is the home to 15,000 tones of waste being recycled daily, making it one of the top electronic waste dump sites in the world.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[laz232]

I think Apple has plenty to answer for, environmentally, but their phones typically last the longest while still being able to upgrade compared to any of the other US phone suppliers. 4 or 5 years doesn't sound like much but Samsung just promised that their new phones would be able to use the next 3 upgrades. I don't think anyone else has matched the support Apple has given for their phones for as long. I think it's more of a statement of how much less the entire industry is doing rather than how correct Apple's approach is.

I would like to see a modular upgradable phone. I'd also like to be given $200 million dollars. I'm more likely to see the second than the first.

For lots of technical and economic reasons the modular upgradable phone is a myth - I have written why a number of times (as my background is electronics design for high-end comms systems). see also:

Project Ara - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org