Climate Change Could Lead to Greater Reliance on iPhones, Says Apple

[MacRumors]

A U.K.-based non-profit organization, CDP, recently asked major companies to provide reports on their environmental impact with details on the risks and opportunities that climate change might present.

Apple was one of the respondents, and as outlined by Bloomberg, the company believes future climate-related disasters could increase peoples' dependence on the iPhone.

According to Apple's report, of which only a portion of a statement was shared, the iPhone can work as a flashlight or a siren, provide first aid instructions, or serve as a radio. The device can be charged via hand cranks or car batteries, allowing it to work even when power is out.

"As people begin to experience severe weather events with greater frequency, we expect an increasing need for confidence and preparedness in the arena of personal safety and the well-being of loved ones,'' the company wrote. Its mobile devices "can serve as a flashlight or a siren; they can provide first aid instructions; they can act as a radio; and they can be charged for many days via car batteries or even hand cranks.''

Apple declined to comment on the information provided in the report, and we only have a small glimpse at the data that was included. Apple undoubtedly had additional thoughts to share on climate change, much like the other companies that participated.

Disney, for example, said it's worried about rising temperatures affecting park attendance, while Coke said potential water shortages could limit water availability for the bottling of Coke. Intel said that droughts in areas of its operation could increase operational costs, while AT&T said that frequent hurricanes and wildfires could lead to more spending on damage repair for its network.

Based on the reports submitted by each company, CDP (which used to be called the Carbon Disclosure Project) provided letter grades measuring metrics like "how aware they are about [climate change]," "how they're progressing towards targets," and "how they're managing it."

Thirty total companies in the United States received overall "A" grades when it came to environmental performance, including Apple. Apple was scored on metrics like the infrastructure in place to address climate change issues within the company, risks and opportunities related to climate change, financial planning for these risks and opportunities, emissions targets and progress made towards those targets, and more.

Apple works hard to limit its carbon footprint, and all of its facilities worldwide operate using 100 percent renewable energy. Apple is now focusing on recycling, with the aim of a closed-loop supply chain that puts an end to its need to mine the earth for rare minerals.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues 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: Climate Change Could Lead to Greater Reliance on iPhones, Says Apple

 

[dude-x]

Serve as a radio? When the company makes no use of the radio in its chips?

 

[Nunyabinez]

But AOC says the world will end in 12 years if we don't do her Green New Deal.

 

[Sasparilla]

Okay Apple, okay.

I think the world is transitioning to smartphones in general, away from PC's etc. regardless of climate change - I'll be one of the few old timers running one of those in 15 years.

 

[macduke]

Maybe that's why they made the iPhone waterproof.

 

[omihek]

"They can act as a radio, but they never will."

Fixed it for you, Apple.

 

[joueboy]

Al Gore is in-charge of Apple again.

 

[jclo]

FYI the comments are broken on the last post (at least they are as of 2:15pm eastern): https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-shot-on-iphone-challenge./

Should be fixed now.

 

[kwikdeth]

The fact the iPhone has to have a minimum charge level before it will even turn on means it's not the most well-suited to a disaster situation.

 

[cube]

OK, climate change would rely more on iPhones because they have no memory slot or removable batteries.

 

[macduke]

Should be fixed now.

I just saw and changed to a real comment, lol.

 

[ipponrg]

According to Apple's report, of which only a portion of a statement was shared, the iPhone can work as a flashlight or a siren, provide first aid instructions, or serve as a radio. The device can be charged via hand cranks or car batteries, allowing it to work even when power is out.

Maybe instead of increasing their battery size and laying larger footprints for larger batteries, they should provide this hand crank with the iPhone. But wait, that'll increase the cost of the iPhone because of the manufacturing cost of the crank. /kidding

 

[cube]

Maybe instead of increasing their battery size and laying larger footprints for larger batteries, they should provide this hand crank with the iPhone. But wait, that'll increase the cost of the iPhone because of the manufacturing cost of the crank. /kidding

You can buy a USB hand crank.

 

[MoreRumors?]

There are other phones that can much the same as an iPhone. If Mother Nature wreaks havoc, there is not much you can do and how many people out there that have their own power generators and battery packs? There is only a handful of actual preppers who are now prepared. BTW, Disney parks never close unless there is a hurricane.

 

[Glockworkorange]

Lol. Okay.

 

[centauratlas]

I am curious how this jibes with:
1. the carbon footprint of Apple of 50 round trip United tickets per day to China - why not teleconference? [ see MR article a few weeks ago]
2. the article this morning on France24: "Never mind climate change, Davos prefers private jets". Why not teleconference for Tim Cook to go to Davos?
3. the impact of soldering in everything including batteries. While they are recyclable, that takes energy and it would be more carbon neutral to allow batteries to be replaced, memory and CPUs (on computers) to be upgraded etc. [see MR]

Of course this assumings that "climate change" means "global warming" and is even real. (And I did see that AOC comment mentioned above, 12 years isn't long). It seems that sometimes the left hand doesn't know what they right is doing. Why isn't Apple doing more to prevent climate change since they are big proponents of it as fact instead of prepping the phone to be there for it?

 

[Glockworkorange]

I’ll keep waiting for the apocalyptic end “from climate change” that will never come.

The climate catastrophe lobby and the true believers don’t do themselves any good with this nonsense. HYSTERIA

 

[thadoggfather]

No self awareness of the carbon footprint required to pump out a gazillion iPhones at breakneck speeds to fuel consumer and technology addiction... love it!

Thanks Tim!

 

[jimothyGator]

No self awareness of the carbon footprint required to pump out a gazillion iPhones at breakneck speeds to fuel consumer and technology addiction... love it!

Thanks Tim!

It’s a virtuous circle: climate change fuels demand for iPhones. iPhone production fuels climate change. Lather, since, repeat (using a low flow showerhead, of course).

 

[thadoggfather]

But AOC says the world will end in 12 years if we don't do her Green New Deal.

And she cited the UN to back up her claims haha!

Way more worried about people like her running the country one day, then Al Gore's now refuted claims that the world should have ended by now.

Why do celebrities and leftie politicians get to fly all over the world on their private jets and go cruising on their mega yachts, and get to tell us with a straight face to chill out on our comparatively inconsequential carbon footprints?

Why do they not practice what they preach at all?

 

[indychris]

I didn’t see the article mention it, but does that mean iPhones are going to be used to help put out large forest fires fueled by bad policies propagated by absurd environmentalist policies, or are they going to have other practical uses, too?

 

[thadoggfather]

Plug your iPhone into Al Gore's orifices, and you'll get infinite battery life. I read it on the Buzzfeed -- must be true!

 

[maerz001]

I really need to have this $1500 flashlight

 

[NomadicTy]

But AOC says the world will end in 12 years if we don't do her Green New Deal.

They've been since "12 years..."... since the 90's.

 

[dannyyankou]

But AOC says the world will end in 12 years if we don't do her Green New Deal.

That’s not what people are saying, they’re saying the effects of climate change will be irreversible in 12 years if we don’t do anything to stop it. Big difference.

Edit: Ok, so I just saw the quote AOC said. She misrepresented what a climate study said. Still, time is running out to slow climate change down.